News Detail
Event Title: Chairman Senate Calls for Greater Investment in Children and Youth During Meeting with Save the Children Delegation
Event Date: 2026-08-07
Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, received a delegation of Save the Children, comprising Mr. Francis Woods, Global Program Director, Save the Children Australia; Mr. Arshad Malik, Regional Director; and Mr. Khurram Gondal, Country Director, Save the Children Pakistan, at Parliament House today.
Welcoming the delegation, the Chairman Senate appreciated Save the Children's longstanding partnership with Pakistan since 1979 and acknowledged the organization's continued contribution to improving the lives of children across the country. He reaffirmed Parliament's commitment to promoting child-centred legislation, effective oversight, and enhanced public investment in education, healthcare, nutrition and child protection.
The delegation briefed the Chairman on Save the Children's ongoing humanitarian and development programmes and their impact across Pakistan. Discussing child health and nutrition, the Chairman welcomed initiatives aimed at improving children's well-being, including the USD 80 million Sindh School Meals Programme, being implemented jointly with the World Food Programme, which is expected to improve nutrition and learning outcomes for more than 200,000 children in nearly 1,300 schools across Sindh. The delegation also briefed the Chairman on ongoing efforts to mobilize climate-resilient financing to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly children, against the adverse impacts of climate change.
The delegation also briefed the Chairman on its collaboration with the World Mosquito Program, an innovative global public health initiative aimed at preventing the transmission of diseases such as dengue. They informed the Chairman about their recent engagements with Federal and Provincial health authorities, including the Government of Sindh, to explore potential collaboration for strengthening Pakistan's efforts to combat dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
The delegation invited the Chairman Senate to participate in the High-Level Regional Dialogue, titled "From Visioning to Commitment: Advancing Child-Responsive Budgeting in Asia," scheduled to be held on 18 November 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The dialogue aims to mobilize public, private and development finance to accelerate investment in children across Asia. The Chairman thanked the delegation for the invitation and appreciated the importance of regional cooperation in advancing child-responsive public policies and financing.
During the meeting, the delegation also shared its initiatives to promote Pakistan's cultural heritage by supporting local artisans and traditional crafts and briefed the Chairman on its visit to Multan. In this context, the Chairman highlighted the historical significance of Multan and its centuries-old tradition of Multani Blue Pottery. He also referred to the renowned Multani clay (Multani Mitti), noting that it is widely used in beauty and skincare products around the world, reflecting the city's rich artistic and cultural heritage. The Chairman observed that nearly 60 percent of Pakistan's population comprises young people and emphasized that, with quality education, skills development and adequate opportunities, particularly in traditional crafts, the country's youth could become a key driver of national development. The delegation appreciated Pakistan's rich civilizational heritage and expressed keen interest in further promoting and preserving traditional arts and crafts.
The Save the Children delegation thanked the Chairman Senate for the warm welcome and appreciated Parliament's continued commitment to advancing children's rights and welfare. The Chairman reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to working closely with national and international partners to promote the well-being, protection and development of children and to build a more resilient and prosperous future for coming generations.