In Pakistan, where children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are frequently lost or go missing, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has launched a pioneering initiative: the Virtual Center for Child Safety, also known as “Mera Pyara” (meaning “My Beloved” in Urdu). This initiative combines compassion, technology, innovation, institutional coordination, and public participation to address this critical social challenge. Mera Pyara was officially launched in July 2024 and inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Punjab.
The Challenge of Lost Children in Punjab
Punjab, with a population of 127 million, faces a significant challenge in lost and found cases. On average, 90 cases of lost children and 30 cases of abandoned children on streets are reported daily (PSCA Emergency-15 Stats). Rapid urbanization, migration, and social vulnerabilities in densely populated cities often leave children missing for extended periods, sometimes indefinitely.
Mera Pyara: A Technology-Driven Solution
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority, initially established for smart city solutions in surveillance, traffic management, and emergency response, identified this gap and launched Mera Pyara. The initiative is a digital platform designed to reunite lost children with their families while aligning with PSCA’s mission to create safe, peaceful, and prosperous cities in Punjab.
The platform leverages the largest emergency call center in Punjab, handling 90,000–100,000 emergency calls daily. Citizens can report lost or found children via:
- Toll-free helpline: 15 (option 3)
- Helpline: 03090000015
- PSCA Public Safety App
- Mera Pyara Facebook Page
- Official website: www.merapyara.pk
Mera Pyara uses facial recognition, data and whereabouts matching, and centralized databases to cross-match lost and found cases.
Field Operations and Social Media Integration
Physical interviews, field visits, and targeted social media campaigns are employed to reunite children with their families. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok amplify “found” cases and invite family identifications. Field teams coordinate with welfare institutions such as shelter homes, Edhi Centers, and Child Protection Bureaus to verify identities. Once verified, children are handed over to lawful guardians in coordination with local police and courts.
Law Enforcement and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
Mera Pyara is linked with 737 police stations across Punjab. Cases involving abductions or exploitation are immediately registered as FIRs, investigated, and addressed legally. The initiative also collaborates with:
- Child Protection Bureau
- Edhi Foundation
- Orphanages across Pakistan
In its first year, Mera Pyara handled over 36,000 lost child cases in Punjab, successfully reuniting more than 35,000 children with their families.
The operation has now expanded across Pakistan. Over 190 shelter homes were contacted, with data of more than 1,800 unidentified children integrated into the system. In three months, families of over 800 unidentified children or special persons were traced and reunited. Collaboration with Sind Child Protection Authority, Edhi Foundation, and Pakistan Railway Police further enhances the initiative’s reach.
Key Takeaways for Practitioners
Mera Pyara offers a model with replicable lessons:
- Technology-Driven Identification and Recovery: Facial recognition, AI-powered whereabouts matching, and a centralized database transform missing child response into a systemic solution.
- Multi-Stakeholder Approach: Collaboration with law enforcement, welfare organizations, social media, and citizen engagement maximizes reunion success.
- Public Awareness and Accessibility: A 24/7 helpline, mobile app, and media visibility ensure the community is actively involved.
- Data Integration from Welfare Institutions: Records from shelters prevent children from remaining invisible.
- Metrics and Accountability: Verified digital data enables monitoring, transparency, and initiative effectiveness.
- Potential for Replication: Other regions facing lost child or vulnerable population challenges can adopt and adapt this model.
Conclusion
Mera Pyara by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority demonstrates how compassion, digital governance, innovation, and community engagement can converge to solve the human tragedy of lost children. The initiative offers a replicable model for jurisdictions worldwide, combining a centralized virtual center, public reporting mechanisms, integration of welfare data, and AI/face recognition tools to ensure no child or vulnerable individual remains lost.
For more information or to report a lost or found child, visit:
Website: www.merapyara.pk
Facebook: Mera Pyara Official