On April 30^th, 2025, Dr. Attiya Inayatullah former Minister with a distinguished career in human rights, gender equality and social development, delivered an insightful lecture to the participants of 37^th SMC on “Issues and Welfare of Children in Pakistan”.

Dr. Attiya Inayatullah spoke at length on the rights of children and the constitutional, legal and institutional arrangements for welfare and protection of children in Pakistan. She discussed child labour, children in bondage and child beggars and how extreme poverty compels the poorest strata of society to resort to such practices.

Dr. Attiya Inayatullah talked about the population explosion and lack of family planning which has led to high infant mortality rates, malnutrition and stunted growth of children. She also shed light on rising child abuse and child pornography cases in Pakistan, and explained that children who undergo such trauma suffer from long term health issues that are physical, psychological, and emotional in nature.

Dr. Attiya Inayatullah concluded her session by quoting Nelson Mandela, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than in the way it treats its children”, and by directing us to reflect on the weight of these words; for the future of our children is in our hands.