A significant proposal has been put forward in Lahore to enhance child protection measures in educational institutions, recommending that all candidates applying for employment undergo mandatory verification of their records related to sexual offences. In this regard, the Prosecutor General of Punjab has sent a detailed two-page letter to the Secretary of Prosecution.
According to Geo News, the Prosecutor General stated in the letter that during the hiring process in educational institutions, verifying candidates through the NADRA Sex Offenders Register must be made compulsory, as the register serves as an effective and reliable tool to ensure the safety of children. He highlighted that the current recruitment system contains major gaps that fail to adequately protect children from such risks.
The letter further noted that existing background checks do not reveal previous records of sexual offences, and if an individual with such a history is hired in an educational institution, it could pose a serious threat to the safety of students and the environment as a whole. Therefore, the Prosecutor General emphasized the need for the Law and Justice Department to develop a proper mechanism to grant access to the Sex Offender Register for verification purposes.
He also proposed that verification should not be limited to new appointments but must also include all existing employees in educational institutions, with their records cross-checked through NADRA’s Sex Offenders Register. This policy, he added, would significantly strengthen child protection measures and minimize potential risks within educational settings.
