Islamabad: The Chief Guest of the event Minister for Human Rights and Law Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar in his speech said that Parenthood plays a vital role in shaping the future of children and affects their physical, emotional and psychological development. In Pakistan, parents often face great challenges in raising their children due to lack of structured guidance and support. The need for comprehensive parenting resources is increasingly urgent, especially in the context of increasing mental health and behavioral problems among children and adolescents.
Positive change is envisaged through the development of handbooks that are in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and emphasize the holistic development of children and the importance of positive parenting practices.
The National Commission on the Status of Women along with partners Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan and Aga Khan University, National Institute of Psychology – Quaide Azam University and Dukhtaran e Pakistan have launched the Art of Parenting Handbook. Includes Agoosh and Parwarish Master Trainer Training Guides for Child and Teen Parenting. The Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Health, Education, Rahmatul lil Alameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin National Authority and there affiliated departments played an important role in the preparation of the manual and the success of this launch. Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Quaid e Azam University and Allama Iqbal University have also played their part and pledged to contribute effectively.
Chairman (NCSW), Nilofar Bakhtiar said that these manuals will play an important role in paving the way for the development of the nation. Training and parenting of children from their birth to 9 years will be done through Agoosh, while Parwar’s Manual of Guidelines is issued for adolescents falling in the age group of 9 to 19 years. As we move towards a better Pakistan, our partner organizations have contributed their expertise to create a useful training manual.
The Aga Khan University and the National Institute of Psychology presented the main features and insights of the manuals.
Mr. Akhtar Iqbal, CEO, Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan thanked the National Commission for the Status of Women (NCSW) and all other stakeholders involved in the rigorous process of developing both the parenting manuals ‘Agosh’ and ‘Parvarish’. including the National Institute of Psychology (NIPS) and the Aga Khan University (AKU). Parents play an important role in shaping future generations in profound ways. These comprehensive parenting guides cater to the needs of rural and urban areas. He noted that commissioning will be an important process. The activities in the manuals can be adapted to the social and cultural context and supplemented with local teaching approaches.
Guest of Honor Mr. Rana Mashood Chairman Prime Minister Youth Program appreciated the efforts of NCSW and all partner organizations, through this document our future will be bright. We quite optimistically hope that our progressive character development of the youth and their approach to an enlightened future will improve with the implementation of such a guideline as parents will be trained to train their children.
