After six long years of separation, Irfan has finally been reunited with his family, a moment filled with tears of joy, relief, and gratitude. This heartwarming reunion reflects the power of hope, public cooperation, and the dedicated efforts of Mera Pyara – Virtual Center for Child Safety working under Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA).
Irfan was found in April 2020 in District Rawalpindi in an unidentified condition. At the time, he was unable to clearly communicate his name, home address, or any details that could help authorities trace his family. As a result, it was impossible to determine where he belonged or how to reconnect him with his loved ones.
For his safety and well-being, Irfan was shifted to Edhi Home Islamabad on 16 April 2020. Later, he was transferred to Edhi Home Multan, where he continued to live among other unidentified and vulnerable children under protective care.
Meanwhile, his family never stopped searching for him. Although years passed without any news, they continued to hope and pray that one day their son would return home safely.
A major breakthrough came when the Mera Pyara Multan team visited Edhi Home Multan as part of its nationwide mission to reunite lost and unidentified children with their families. During the visit, the team collected and documented the data of all unidentified children residing in the shelter home. Their photographs, personal details, and available information were carefully recorded, and short interviews were conducted to gather any clues that might help identify them.
The collected information was then added to Mera Pyara’s centralized digital system, where individual tracing cases were created for each child. To increase the chances of identification, awareness banners and short video interviews were shared through Mera Pyara’s official social media platforms, allowing families and communities across Pakistan to help recognize missing loved ones.
Irfan was one of the children included in this campaign.
Soon after his video was shared online, it reached his father, Muhammad Zaman. The moment he saw the video, he immediately recognized Irfan as his son who had been missing since April 2020. Without hesitation, he contacted the Mera Pyara team and shared information about the case.
Following this breakthrough, the team initiated a detailed verification process. Family records, identifying details, and supporting information were carefully reviewed to confirm the relationship. After the completion of all legal formalities and necessary procedures, Irfan was safely handed over to his family.
The reunion was deeply emotional. After six years of uncertainty and separation, a mother was finally able to embrace her son again, and a family that had been incomplete for years was finally reunited.
This success story is a powerful example of how technology, public awareness, and community participation can help reconnect families even after many years.
Mera Pyara was officially launched in July 2024 with a mission to identify, trace, and reunite missing and vulnerable children with their families. Through shelter home visits, digital documentation, facial recognition, whereabouts matching, social media outreach, and technology-driven tracing efforts, the platform continues to transform lives and restore hope for countless families across Pakistan.
The impact of these efforts has earned international recognition. Within less than two years of its establishment, Mera Pyara – Virtual Center for Child Safety has been recognized globally as a WSIS Champion Project and declared among the Top 5 e-Government projects in the world. This remarkable achievement reflects Pakistan’s innovative approach to child protection and demonstrates how technology can be used to create meaningful social impact.
Irfan’s reunification is more than just a success story. It is a reminder that no matter how much time has passed, hope should never be abandoned. Every child deserves the chance to return home, and every family deserves the opportunity to be whole again.
Mera Pyara remains committed to ensuring that no child is forgotten and that every possible effort is made to reconnect missing children with their loved ones.
You can also read the inspiring and emotional story of Rab Nawaz, who was reunited with his family after a long separation of 35 years, a moment filled with hope and joy.