By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has sAid that transforming Lahore into a child-friendly city is the need of the time to provide children with a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.
He stated that more than 40 percent of Pakistan’s population consists of children; therefore, it is essential to place children’s needs at the center of urban planning. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan expressed these views while addressing the ceremony held in Lahore for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNICEF and the Lahore Development Authority for the Child-Friendly City initiative. On this occasion, DG LDA Tahir Farooq and UNICEF Pakistan Representative Pernille Ironside signed the MoU.
Provincial Minister for Primary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, Vice Chairman LDA Mian Marghoob Ahmad, Chairperson Punjab Women Protection Authority Hina Parvez Butt, Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Sarah Ahmad, and Chairperson Punjab Social Protection Authority Jahan Ara Wattoo also attended the ceremony, while UNICEF Pakistan Representative Pernille Ironside’s participation was also a key part of the event.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan termed this initiative a historic development and said that Lahore is moving towards becoming Pakistan’s first child-friendly city through this project, which will also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said that urban development is not limited to buildings and roads; rather, it is linked with children’s safe future, better education, health, and social development. He stated that investing in children is, in fact, investing in the future of the country, which forms the foundation of better economic growth and social stability. Highlighting urban challenges, he said that many areas of the city still lack basic facilities—some areas do not have footpaths, others face a shortage of clean drinking water, and weak enforcement of traffic laws is affecting daily life.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan appreciated the Chief Minister Punjab’s “Suthra Punjab Program” and said that such initiatives are very important for the improvement of the city; however, the involvement of the private sector is also necessary for the success of large projects.
He further said that projects like Safe City not only improve security but also have positive effects on children’s social development and health, and they benefit the entire city of Lahore, although their implementation is a challenging process. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that in this fast-paced era, it is the responsibility of the State to provide children with a safe and balanced environment. He expressed satisfaction that sign language was given importance at the event, and that children presenting the national anthem in sign language was a positive step reflecting social inclusion.
He said that the Punjab Assembly is undertaking effective legislation for the protection of children’s rights, including the law against child marriage as an important milestone, while the Child Rights Caucus and the Caucus for Persons with Disabilities are playing an active role. He added that only through data-driven policymaking can a better and safer future for children be ensured. He urged the Lahore Development Authority to conduct a comprehensive audit of schools, hospitals, parks, and other public places to ensure accessibility across the city, and to present clear targets and timelines to the public for transparency of the project.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan stated that if this project is implemented with seriousness, Lahore can become a model child-friendly city, setting an example not only for Pakistan but also for other cities in the region.
