Karachi turns blue as Sindh celebrates World Children’s Day

Provincial health minister calls for working together as a nation to ensure a better future for children

Karachi turned blue as the province celebrated the World Children’s Day – a global day of action for children, by children – to raise awareness on the need to help millions of them realise their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

To celebrate the momentous day, a mix of national, heritage and corporate buildings in Karachi turned blue. These included the Quaid's Mausoleum, Quaid-i-Azam House, Sindh Assembly, Karachi Port Trust Building, NJV School Building, Dolmen Mall, Ocean Mall, Dou Talwar and Teen Talwar as a symbol to our commitment towards children's rights.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on the occasion said that the health department is committed towards the "health of our children".

"Understanding that there is high infant mortality and under five children mortality and morbidity, we are committed to all the SDG goals and indicators in this respect and we will try to fulfil our obligations," she added.

Dr Pechuho also said that there is a crucial need to address malnutrition and stunting in Sindh and the provincial government is going to ramp up its nutritional programme to address this issue.

"We are in the process of planning for neonatal critical ICU care for which we were setting district-wise neonatal ICUs. This will also help with the treatment of low birth rate neonates and premature babies."

She further said that "we need to work together as a nation to secure the future and rights of our children not just in Sindh but all over Pakistan".

It is the third year in a row that buildings in the country and across the globe are lit up to call for a world in which the vision of the Convention of the Rights of the Child becomes a reality for every child.

“While millions of girls and boys in Pakistan have seen their lives improve, millions of others continue to grapple with poverty, inequality, and lack of access to the essential services,” said Aida Girma, the Unicef Representative in Pakistan.

“The Covid-19 crisis is a child rights crisis. We must work together to avert a lost generation as the global pandemic threatens to cause irreversible harm to children’s education, nutrition and well-being. This includes making sure that every child and adolescent can continue to access the essential services that are their rights so they can survive, stay healthy, learn and fulfil their potential. Unicef staff are on the ground doing everything they can to help children and communities respond to, and recover from, the pandemic. We will continue to support the government so that no child in Pakistan is left behind,” she added.

The World Children’s Day marks the adoption of the Convention on 20 November 1989. Pakistan ratified the convention the following year.