ISLAMABAD - In an effort to augment the present low birth registration rate with the help of cellular technology, Telenor Pakistan and UNICEF Pakistan are jointly launching a pilot project to mediate child's right to identity through mobile birth registration. A ceremony to formalize this partnership was held here Thursday.
Currently, the rate of birth registration in Pakistan is quite low due to various socio economic factors. Time, cost, travel, process hindrances and general lack of awareness all contribute towards exacerbating the situation.
This unique pilot project aims to help create an enabling environment by making the process of birth registration user-friendly, and provide facilitation to citizens and other stakeholders through the use of technology and innovations.
A one-of-its kind initiative under Telenor Pakistan Corporate Social Responsibility umbrella, the project will not only aim at increasing demand for registrations in selected Union Councils of Sindh and Punjab but will also induce a proactive approach towards bringing birth registration services to the public.
"We at Telenor Pakistan aim to empower societies by extending the benefits of telecommunications through innovative measures to the masses," said Aslam Hayat, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Telenor Pakistan. Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan said, "This project has tremendous implications for the right of every child in Pakistan as birth registration is an important instrument to realize children's right to health, education and other services in particular protection against violence, abuse and exploitation."