UNICEF, South Punjab join hands for child development drive

UNICEF Chief Field Office Ramiz Behbudov met Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fuad Hashim Rabbani at the South Punjab Secretariat in Multan to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at improving child health, education and skills development across the region

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2026) UNICEF Chief Field Office Ramiz Behbudov met Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fuad Hashim Rabbani at the South Punjab Secretariat in Multan to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at improving child health, education and skills development across the region.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Health South Punjab Syed Shahbaz Hussain, additional secretaries, and officials from WASA and the Public Health Engineering Department. Discussions focused on advancing child welfare initiatives, with particular emphasis on education, health services, skills training and community development.

Officials briefed the participants on the ongoing Model Villages Project in South Punjab, which is being implemented at an accelerated pace. Under the first year of the two-year initiative, 100 villages have been selected for development. The project also includes the installation of 500 hand pumps to improve access to clean drinking water.

UNICEF officials highlighted a special focus on skills training for children aged 11 to 16, stressing that the initiative aims to lay the foundation for long-term social development in Pakistan. They also underlined the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern education and the need to prioritize health and educational support for girls and mothers.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Fuad Hashim Rabbani said that meaningful social progress could be achieved by promoting behavioral change alongside formal education. He assured full cooperation to UNICEF and other development partners in implementing public welfare projects across South Punjab.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening initiatives that enhance the wellbeing, education and future prospects of children in the region.