Sindh sets up helpline for missing and kidnapped children

KARACHI: The government of Sindh has established a helpline to tackle the rising incidents of missing and kidnapping of children, ARY News reported on Friday.

Helpline 1121 will work round the clock to receive the complaints about the incidents of kidnapping and missing children apart of any crime or excess against children.

The Child Helpline will work under the provincial government’s Social Welfare Department with the head office in Karachi.

The representatives of the social welfare and police departments and the NGOs will work with the Child Helpline, officials said.

The Sindh government has established the Child Protection Committees, which will be headed at the district level by the respective deputy commissioner.

The incidents of child marriage could also be reported at the helpline 1121 for government action.

According to officials, the social welfare department will also launch a public awareness campaign about the excesses with children.

The incidents of missing children increased in recent days, the Sindh High Court, in a recent hearing regarding the whereabouts of around 20 missing children summoned the director of the Federal Investigation Agency, Sindh with relevant record on Dec 20 .

The  judges expressed displeasure with the FIA for its officials’ absence. A notice was issued at the last hearing to the investigating agency after a question was raised about the possibility of use of these children in human trafficking.

The bench also criticized the police when they informed the court that one of the missing girls had been recovered in Korangi on Nov 19, but the suspect could not be arrested.