KARACHI - The Sindh Child Protection Authority (SCPA) approved Rs 200 million for the year 2017-18 in its 7th meeting held under Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Social welfare Shamim Mumtaz on Tuesday at committee room of Sindh Assembly building.

Secretary Social Welfare Alia Shahid, DG SCPA  Hafeezullah Abbasi, Madadgar helpline CEO Zia Awan, Plan Pakistan representative Sohail Ahmed, Unicef Dr Asif , Devcon Nisar Nizamani, Manager Aahung Aisha Aijaz, DS (Coord) Sindh CM Secretariat Farah Yameen and representatives of Home, Law and Labour Departments and others attended the meeting.

Three point’s agenda was placed in the meeting including confirmation of minutes of 6th meeting of SCPA; Budget for year 2017-18 and hierarchy of the SCPA.

The meeting approved Rs 200 million for year 2017-18 budget of the authority. The organogram of the authority was also approved with Director Operations , Director Finance & Audit , Director Legal , Director IT to assist Director General SCPA at provincial Level and Assistant Director will be posted at divisional level while 29 child protection officers in all districts throughout the province.

It was decided to appoint officers and officials initially for six months periods from existing resources of Sindh government and Social Welfare department which will be replaced by fresh hiring on permanent basis.

Four member of SCPA executive committee was also approved comprising Social Welfare Secretary Alia Shahid as its chairperson and Zia Awan, DS Coordination CM Sindh Secretariat Farah Yameen, and representative of Plan Pakistan as its members which will meet once a week.

The meeting decided to organized national level conference of stakeholders on child issues to strengthen coordination for child protection. The meeting also decided to regulate shelter homes of children run by non-government organization and certify them after following certain standard operating procedures.

It was decided to invite specialized organization (NGO’s) working on child issues so that coordinated efforts was initiated for protection of children. It was also decided that Unicef will give presentation on survey jointly conducted by Unicef and Bureau of Statics on the child Labour in next meeting of authority.     

Meeting also approved to induct Kashif Bajeer Regional Head SPARC as co-opted member of the SCPA.