In a country like Pakistan, where children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are often lost, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has launched a special initiative titled Virtual Center for Child Safety, known as “Mera Pyara” (meaning “My Beloved” in Urdu). It is a pioneering model combining compassion, technology, innovation, institutional coordination, and public participation. The initiative was officially launched in July 2024 and inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Historically, lost persons—especially children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs—pose a grave challenge in a province like Punjab, having a population of over 127 million. On average, around 90 cases of missing children and 30 cases of abandoned children are reported in Punjab daily (PSCA Emergency-15 Stats). In densely populated cities, the convergence of migration, urbanization, inadequate identity record-keeping, and social vulnerability has meant that many children who go missing remain separated from their families for long periods—and in many cases, indefinitely.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority, originally established to deploy integrated smart city solutions for surveillance, traffic management, and emergency response, recognized this critical gap. It took the initiative to address this issue through a dedicated digital platform. The project aligns with PSCA’s broader mission of creating safe, peaceful, and prosperous cities in Punjab, using innovation, partnership, and technology as core organizational values.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority operates the largest emergency call center in Punjab, handling 90K–100K emergency calls daily. Citizens can simply report a missing or found child via the 15 helpline (choose option 3), call 03090000015, or use the Facebook Page “Mera Pyara” or the website www.merapyara.pk. This makes PSCA the largest data hub handling cases of both lost and found children from across Punjab.
The digital platform uses advanced facial recognition and data/whereabouts matching tools to cross-match datasets of missing and found individuals. In addition, physical interviews, field visits, and targeted social media campaigns are used to help reunite children with their families. Social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok are vital in raising public awareness and amplifying “found” listings to help families recognize their loved ones.
Field teams visit welfare institutions (including shelter homes, Edhi Centers, and Child Protection Bureaus) to collect data on children living there without identity information. Once an identification is verified, the team coordinates with local police, courts, and guardians to safely reunite the missing person with their family.
The system is connected to 737 Police Stations across Punjab. In cases involving criminal elements—such as abduction or exploitation—FIRs (First Information Reports) are promptly registered, investigations are carried out, and arrests are made when necessary. The PSCA also collaborates with the Child Protection Bureau, Edhi Foundation, and Orphanages to reunite lost children with their families.
In its first year of operation, Mera Pyara received over 36,000 cases of missing children in Punjab, out of which 35,000+ children were successfully reunited with their families.
The program has now expanded operations across Pakistan, registering over 190 shelter homes nationwide and integrating data of 1,800 unidentified children. Within just three months, families of more than 800 unidentified children and special persons were successfully identified.
Furthermore, Mera Pyara has entered into collaboration with the Sindh Child Protection Authority, Edhi Foundation, and Pakistan Railway Police to extend its mission of reuniting lost kids with their families across Pakistan.
For practitioners and organizations working on similar projects worldwide, Mera Pyara offers valuable insights:
a. Technology-driven identification – Using facial recognition, whereabouts matching, and a centralized database to systematize the lost-child response.
b. Multi-stakeholder approach – Combining law enforcement, welfare institutions, and citizen engagement for maximum effectiveness.
c. Public awareness & accessibility – A 24/7 toll-free helpline, dedicated mobile app, and media visibility ensure that communities actively participate in recoveries.
d. Data integration from welfare institutions – Prevents children living in shelters from remaining unidentified or invisible.
e. Accountability & transparency – Verified data publication ensures monitoring, transparency, and trust in the system.
f. Replication potential – The Mera Pyara model can be replicated in other regions facing challenges related to missing children, elderly persons, and special individuals.
The Mera Pyara initiative by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority stands as a remarkable example of how compassion, digital governance, innovation, and community engagement can work together to address the human tragedy of missing children. This virtual center model, combined with AI, facial recognition, and data integration, demonstrates how technology can drive real societal impact.
For cities and countries facing similar challenges, Mera Pyara offers both inspiration and a replicable framework to protect the most vulnerable and reunite them with their families.
Author:
Mustansar Feroze
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)
Chief Operating Officer – Punjab Safe Cities Authority
📧 Email: Mustansar.psp@gmail.com
🌐 Website: https://merapyara.pk
Contact Number: 03090000015
Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/merapyaraofficial