Alhamdulillah, another long-awaited reunion has been made possible through Mera Pyara – Virtual Center for Child Safety, bringing hope and happiness to a family that had been waiting for answers for more than a decade.
Sixteen years ago, in 2009, a special woman named Gulnar went missing from Kasur. Due to her condition, she was unable to clearly share her personal details or home address. After being found alone in Multan, a kind-hearted citizen ensured her safety and admitted her to the Edhi Center in Multan. Later, for her continued care and protection, she was transferred to the Edhi Home in Karachi, where she lived for many years, quietly waiting for the day she would reunite with her loved ones.
Over the years, despite every possible effort, it became difficult to trace her family. With no verified identity and no way to communicate her background, Gulnar remained separated from her home and children. Her family searched for her everywhere. As time passed, hope slowly faded, and her children eventually believed that perhaps their mother was no longer alive.
Mera Pyara, a project of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority and Pakistan’s largest child safety center, works across Pakistan to reunite lost-and-found children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities with their families. As part of this mission, the Mera Pyara team recently collected data from orphanages and welfare centers nationwide. Short identification videos of unidentified individuals were shared through the official Mera Pyara digital platforms and social media channels to help trace families.
By the grace of Allah, one of these videos reached the right eyes.
Gulnar’s daughter came across the video on the Mera Pyara page and immediately recognized her mother. Overwhelmed with emotion, she contacted the Mera Pyara team and shared their painful journey of searching for her mother for years. She explained that after exhausting all possibilities, the family had accepted the sorrowful belief that their mother might no longer be alive. Seeing the video brought tears of joy, disbelief, and gratitude.
Through coordination with Edhi Foundation, relevant authorities, and law enforcement, Mera Pyara verified the information and successfully reconnected Gulnar with her family. After 16 years of separation, a mother returned to her children, and a broken family found closure and happiness once again.
This reunion reflects the true purpose of Mera Pyara’s nationwide, 24/7 efforts. Beyond lost-and-found cases, Mera Pyara also addresses other child safety concerns, ensuring that vulnerable individuals are not forgotten. Through technology, public awareness, unified data systems, and collaboration with welfare organizations and police departments, Mera Pyara continues to restore dignity, identity, and hope.
The mission of Mera Pyara remains clear: no child, senior citizen, or vulnerable individual should remain lost, forgotten, or separated from their loved ones. InshaAllah, many more families will experience the same joy and relief in the days ahead.
واللہ المستعان