Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday urged parents to take greater responsibility for the safety of their children following two recent incidents in the province that resulted in multiple child fatalities, saying that protecting children begins at home and requires a collective effort from society.
Her remarks came after the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Sargodha and the collapse of a roof at a private tuition centre in Lahore that claimed the lives of 14 children.
Addressing the Lahore tragedy, the chief minister said the incident had caused profound sorrow and raised serious questions about whether stronger preventive measures could have prevented the loss of young lives. She said preliminary investigations indicated that negligence on the part of the tuition centre had contributed to the disaster and urged parents to carefully assess the safety standards of schools, madressahs and tuition centres before enrolling their children.
Speaking about the Sargodha case, Maryam Nawaz described the killing as heartbreaking. She said the child had gone alone to a nearby shop, where she was allegedly murdered by the shopkeeper, who later concealed her body.
The chief minister said investigators identified the suspect after finding bloodstains on the victim’s slipper. She added that she had immediately taken notice of the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend the accused without delay.
Maryam Nawaz said parents should avoid allowing young children to go out alone and, whenever possible, accompany them, warning that risks may exist even in familiar neighbourhoods and crowded public places.
She said the government could provide essential public services, including transportation, healthcare and effective policing, but the protection of children also depended on the vigilance of parents, families and local communities.
The chief minister added that while law enforcement agencies could reinforce deterrence against crime through effective policing, parents shared an equally critical responsibility by ensuring proper supervision and nurturing their children with care.
Concluding her remarks, Maryam Nawaz called for coordinated efforts to protect children, saying that preventing such tragedies required the combined commitment of parents, educational institutions, communities and the government.