Child Protection Laws and Child Protection Services in Pakistan

 The child production system in Pakistan is in a rudimentary phase and gradually institutions are evolving. However, the history of child protection in Pakistan goes back to the colonial era. For example the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, and The Factories Act, 1934 were legislated before the British left. Over the period of time, child protection legislation evolved but still, there is a lot that needs to be done. Punjab Destitute & Neglected Children’s Act, 2004 (PDNC, 2004) is the first law in Pakistan that can be declared as the first formal child protection law in Pakistan. Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, Punjab was established according to this law. Here are some of the laws related to child rights in Pakistan since the British era. 

History of Child-Related Laws in Pakistan

Here are some of the child-related laws in the history of Pakistan. Some of the laws are before the creation of Pakistan. These laws were legislated when the region was under British control. However, some of the laws came after the creation of Pakistan. Generally, it is good to go through the main theme of these laws chronologically by keeping all the historically and politically changing landscape of the region. Overall, keeping this in mind helps to understand the evolution of child rights laws in Pakistan. The current ongoing legislative journey in the fields of child rights and child protection laws in Pakistan cannot be separated from the past.