Saba Qamar appointed as UNICEF ambassador

A-lister pledged to promote child rights

In an announcement released on Friday, UNICEF revealed on its website that television star Saba Qamar has been appointed as the first National Ambassador for child rights in Pakistan. The announcement coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child, a day that recognises girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

"I believe every child deserves to have quality education," said Qamar in a press conference following the announcement held at the Karachi UNICEF office. "In the last three days, I visited different areas of Sindh where I met children and women. I noticed that there's a need for drinking water, a basic requirement for living. They don't have clean water to drink. They don't have an education system. We need to do a lot."

The Mrs & Mr Shameem star illustrated the depth of the challenges still being faced by young girls in the region. "The most painful thing that I saw there was that young girls at the age of 10, 12 and 14 were getting married. At that age you need to learn, grow," she maintained. "You need validation, you get to know yourself, you need your parents' love, you need education. At that age you're developing your personality. And at that age, girls getting married is a crime. We need to break this chain. And for that to happen ignorance must end. "

The television star spoke of how she had been moved by the plight of the young girls she had met and pledged to use her platform to make a difference. "I cried," she admitted. "I feel so blessed. God has been so kind to me. I have everything: name, fame and a voice. I have been working for 20 years and thought to myself what good my life is if I can't help others? I need everyone's support in this, including the media. I want to bring about change."