For any country, global recognition is a matter of pride. But when that recognition comes from one of the world's most prestigious technology forums, it becomes much more than an award; it becomes proof that innovation, determination, and public service can overcome even the greatest resource limitations.
That is exactly what happened when Mera Pyara – Virtual Center for Child Safety, a flagship child protection initiative of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), was officially recognized as a WSIS Champion Project 2026 in the E-Government CatCCegory. Launched on 26 July 2024, Mera Pyara has rapidly evolved into Pakistan's largest digital child safety platform, using advanced AI technologies to reunite lost children and protect vulnerable individuals across the country.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is one of the world's leading United Nations-supported platforms that recognizes digital initiatives transforming societies through information and communication technologies. Every year, governments, international organizations, and public institutions from across the globe submit their most impactful digital projects for evaluation.
Among thousands of entries from around the world, Mera Pyara earned a place among the world's finest top 5 digital government initiatives, making history not only for the Punjab Safe Cities Authority but for the entire nation of Pakistan.
The official WSIS+20 High-Level Event was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 10 July 2026, where representatives from governments and international organizations gathered to celebrate projects shaping the future of digital public services.
Representing Pakistan and the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) at the prestigious WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, Chief Operating Officer Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) SSP Mustansar Feroze proudly received the WSIS Champion Certificate and Champion Trophy on behalf of Pakistans's largest child safety platform Mera Pyara.
This moment represents far more than receiving an international award. It symbolizes Pakistan's place among the world's digital innovators and reflects the unwavering dedication of everyone behind Mera Pyara. From the technical teams developing and continuously enhancing the platform, the professionals monitoring dashboards and managing emergency calls around the clock, the case management teams coordinating follow-ups, the media and public awareness teams, and the officers working tirelessly in the field, to child protection experts, partner law enforcement agencies, welfare organizations, and countless frontline responders, every individual plays a vital role in making Mera Pyara a success. Together, their collective dedication to protecting vulnerable children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities continues to transform lives, reunite families, strengthen child protection across Pakistan, and earn global recognition for the country.
Most importantly, it proved that world-class innovation can emerge from Pakistan.
A Remarkable Achievement in Less Than Two Years
Perhaps the most inspiring part of this achievement is not the trophy itself. It is the timeline. Mera Pyara has not even completed two years since its launch. Building a nationwide child safety ecosystem normally requires years of planning, billions in investment, and extensive technological infrastructure. Yet within an incredibly short period, the platform has managed to establish itself as Pakistan's largest digital child safety initiative while earning recognition on one of the world's biggest ICT stages.
This achievement becomes even more extraordinary when viewed in the context of Pakistan. Pakistan is a developing country with limited technological resources compared to many advanced economies competing in international digital innovation awards. Countries with significantly larger budgets, mature digital ecosystems, and decades of investment in public technology also participated in the competition. Despite these challenges, Pakistan's Mera Pyara stood alongside the world's best.
That success sends a powerful message: Innovation is not determined by resources alone. It is driven by vision, commitment, collaboration, and the determination to solve real societal problems.
When Mera Pyara Wins, Pakistan Wins
The WSIS Champion recognition belongs to far more than a single department. It belongs to Pakistan. Every Pakistani can take pride in knowing that a homegrown public-sector initiative has earned worldwide appreciation for protecting children and vulnerable individuals. International recognition of Mera Pyara is, in many ways, international recognition of Pakistan's growing digital capabilities.
It demonstrates that Pakistan is not only adopting modern technologies but is also developing innovative solutions that address complex humanitarian challenges. The recognition strengthens Pakistan's image as a country capable of creating scalable, technology-driven public services with meaningful social impact. For a nation often facing challenges on the global stage, achievements like this help reshape international perceptions through innovation, compassion, and excellence.
Transforming Child Safety Across Pakistan
Global recognition is meaningful only when it reflects real-world impact and Mera Pyara's achievements are backed by measurable results.
Since its launch on 26 July 2024, Mera Pyara has received 158,657 reported cases across Pakistan as of 11 July 2026. During the same period, the platform successfully resolved 147,789 cases, demonstrating an exceptional response rate and the effectiveness of its nationwide coordination network.
Among these, 84,132 cases involved lost and found children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Through advanced AI-powered facial recognition, Field VIsits Social Media Campaigns and Collaboration with law enforcement and welfare organizations, 81,019 individuals were successfully reunited with their families, restoring hope to thousands of households across Pakistan.
Beyond reunification, Mera Pyara also serves as a comprehensive child protection platform. It received 74,525 cases related to other child safety concerns, including child abuse, digital abuse, domestic violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, exploitation, and emergency interventions. Out of these, 66,795 cases were successfully resolved by ensuring timely protection, legal action, and support for victims.
These numbers illustrate that Mera Pyara is far more than a digital reporting platform. It is a nationwide child safety ecosystem that delivers real-world protection, rapid response, and life-changing outcomes every day.
Technology with a Human Purpose
Unlike many digital platforms that focus primarily on technology or data management, Mera Pyara was built with a clear human-centered mission: to ensure that no lost child, vulnerable senior citizen, or person with special needs remains separated from their loved ones.
Technology is only valuable when it changes lives.
Every feature within Mera Pyara has been built to accelerate rescue efforts, improve coordination, and increase the chances of family reunification. Today, the platform uses a combination of advanced technologies, including:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Facial Recognition Technology
Intelligent Face Matching Algorithms
Digital Case Management
Centralized National Data Integration
Real-Time Information Sharing
Geographic Information Support
Secure Digital Records
Cross-agency Coordination Systems
Social Media Campaigns
Whenever a lost or unidentified child is rescued anywhere in Pakistan, photographs and case information are uploaded into the system. AI-powered facial recognition technology compares the child's facial features against thousands of previously reported records, helping investigators identify possible family matches within minutes.
This dramatically reduces the time traditionally required for manual searches while increasing the likelihood of successful reunification. The platform also allows multiple agencies to coordinate instantly, ensuring that information reaches relevant responders without unnecessary delays. Behind every successful match is not merely artificial intelligence, but a combination of advanced technology and human compassion working together.
A Nationwide Mission Across One of the World's Largest Populations
Although Mera Pyara was initially launched in Punjab, its mission quickly expanded beyond provincial boundaries. Today, the platform serves people across Pakistan. This nationwide reach is a significant achievement when considering Pakistan's scale. With a population of approximately 250 million people, Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world.
Protecting children and vulnerable individuals across such a vast population presents enormous operational challenges. The diversity of geography, languages, communities, and administrative structures makes nationwide coordination exceptionally complex. Despite these realities, Mera Pyara has successfully developed a collaborative network capable of responding across the country. Its ability to operate at this scale highlights the platform's robustness and scalability. It is not a small pilot project. It is one of World's largest digital child safety ecosystems.
More Than a Platform—A 24/7 Child Safety Network
One of the greatest strengths of Mera Pyara is that it is not limited to just office. It functions as a nationwide operational network working around the clock. The platform remains in continuous coordination with law enforcement agencies, welfare organizations, and rescue partners to ensure immediate action whenever a vulnerable individual requires assistance.
Whether a lost child is found at a railway station, an unidentified senior citizen is rescued on a highway, or a child is reported to be at immediate risk, the platform enables rapid communication between relevant agencies. This 24/7 operational model ensures that reunification efforts begin without unnecessary delays, helping vulnerable individuals reach home as quickly as possible.
Strong Collaboration Makes Rapid Response Possible
Child safety cannot be achieved by one institution alone.
It requires cooperation across multiple organizations.
Mera Pyara has established strong operational collaboration with numerous government and welfare partners, including:
Punjab Police
Railway Police
Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP)
National Highways & Motorway Police
Edhi Centres
Child Protection & Welfare Bureau
CPLC
Old Age Homes
Welfare Organizations
Rescue and Social Welfare Partners
This collaborative ecosystem enables faster rescue operations, better information sharing, and coordinated efforts that significantly improve the chances of successful family reunification.
Protecting Children Beyond Missing Cases
Although many people know Mera Pyara for reuniting lost children with their families, the platform's responsibilities extend much further.
It addresses a wide range of child safety concerns, including:
Child Protection
Child Abuse
Domestic Violence
Child Kidnapping
Child Exploitation
Online Child Safety Concerns
Emergency Child Rescue
Protection of Vulnerable Children
Support for Senior Citizens
Assistance for Persons with Special Needs
This comprehensive approach allows authorities to respond not only after a child goes missing but also when children face threats to their safety and well-being.
Reporting a Case is Simple
Public participation plays a vital role in protecting children.
Anyone can report a lost child, an unidentified person, or any child safety concern through multiple official channels.
Citizens can contact:
Emergency Helpline 15
Mera Pyara WhatsApp: 0309-0000015
Mera Pyara Official Website
PSCA Public Safety App
These reporting channels remain available around the clock, allowing citizens to seek assistance whenever required.
Every report contributes to making Pakistan safer for children and vulnerable individuals.
A Vision Beyond Awards
While becoming a WSIS Champion is a historic achievement, it is not the final destination.
For the Mera Pyara team, the real success lies in every child who returns home safely, every senior citizen reunited with loved ones, every person with special needs protected, and every family whose years of uncertainty come to an end. The platform continues to evolve through technology, collaboration, and public participation, strengthening Pakistan's child protection ecosystem. Its guiding mission remains unchanged:
No child should ever be left lost or without protection. Every vulnerable senior citizen and person with special needs deserves safety, dignity, compassionate care, and the chance to reunite with their loved ones. The recognition received in Geneva is a reminder that Pakistan has the talent, dedication, and vision to develop world-class public services capable of transforming lives.
Mera Pyara's journey from a newly established initiative to a WSIS Champion Project 2026 demonstrates what becomes possible when innovation is combined with compassion, modern technology, and an unwavering commitment to public service.
For Punjab Safe Cities Authority, this is a proud milestone.
For Mera Pyara, it is a global recognition.
And for Pakistan, it is proof that the nation can stand confidently among the world's leaders in digital governance and child protection innovation.