Child abduction and molestation are one of the fastest-growing crimes in Pakistan. According to a report, nearly 1,500 cases of child abuse were reported in the first six months of 2020.
Published in August by Sahil – a child protection organization – the report indicated that at least 1,489 cases of child abuse were registered between January and July. The victims included 785 girls and 704 boys.
The number indicates that on average, eight children were molested every day in the country. Some of them ended in the brutal murder of the innocent child after the heinous crime.
What is Zainab Alert?
To counter such incidents, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government introduced Zainab Alert Application in mid-October. The portal will help parents file a rapid complaint if their child goes missing, resulting in prompt and coordinated action.
The Zainab Alert utilizes advanced technologies and packs in several key features such as AI face recognition, geo-tagging, and mapping, and real-time progress tracking and alerts in order to streamline and strengthen response and recovery alerts.
What prompted the action?
The Zainab Alert Bill and its associated app have been named after the seven years old child abuse victim, Zainab Ansari. The incident occurred in early 2018 when she was raped and murdered in the eastern city of Kasur.
The inhuman killing erupted outrage across Pakistan. Thousands of violent protests stormed police stations for inaction and set fire to politicians’ homes, while Pakistanis across the country took to social media demanding action. The killer was hanged later that year.
Zainab’s Father Launches the Portal
Zainab’s father Amin Ansari pressed the button and launches the app (integrated with Pakistan Citizen Portal) at an event held in Islamabad, on October 15. He was flanked by the Ministry of Human Rights Shireen Mazari and Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar.
Speaking on occasion, Mazari said that the past government had already begun work on an alert, which was named ‘Mera Bacha’ (my child) on the prime minister’s portal but it was never completed.
Features of Zainab Alert
To synchronize the process of complaint registration and police action, the app has a responsive dashboard that includes the following features.
Connects to DPOs across Pakistan
The Zainab Alert app has been integrated with district police officers (DPOs) across the country. The app is linked to 36 DPOs in Punjab, 33 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 50 DPOs in Sindh.
Report and Search Found/Missing Child
The dashboard of the app allows parents/guardians to report a missing child under ‘reporting missing/found child’. It also allows them to check the data of the found child across the country.
Directory of Missing & Found Children
The authorities have been keeping a track record of complaints of missing and found children. The data has been integrated with the application is now available for everyone under ‘Directory of Missing & Found Children.’
Spread the Word
Once registered, complaints can be shared on all social media platforms to ‘spread the word.’
Check Real-Time Progress
There is a separate option for checking real-time progress. Complainants can log-in and verify any time what progress has been made on their complaint.
How to Report A Missing Child Using Zainab Alert?
Here is a step-by-step guide to reporting a missing child, or child abuse using Pakistan Citizen Portal.
- Pakistan Citizen Portal is a must-have application for all of us. In case you don’t have it, download the application on Google Play Store /App Store.
2. Register with name, number, and CNIC, and press the Zainab Alert icon.
3. Go to the option ‘report missing/found child.’
4. Fill out all relevant details of the missing child on the form. Upload supportive documents/ pictures/ videos/ audio.
5. Within two minutes of the report, you will receive a confirmation call to verify the reported case.
6. As soon as the complaint is processed, an alert SMS will be sent out to all DPS, RPOs, and CPOs in this regard to ensue a nationwide search.
7. Resources will be allocated for the timely recovery of the child.
8. Parents will be kept updated with the progress throughout.
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