PAHCHAAN – Protection and Help of Children Against Abuse and Neglect – is a registered, non-profit organization established in 2005 with a mission to protect vulnerable children and support deserving families. Initially focused on child protection, we quickly recognized the urgent need to also address maternal health and family well-being to ensure a safer future for both children and society at large.

In our early years, we worked closely with street and runaway children, setting up drop-in centers that provided psychological counseling and care. Collaborating with railway police, bus terminals, and park authorities, we rehabilitated children and helped reunite them with their families. We also supported these families with small-scale economic opportunities to ensure long-term stability.

Driven by the lack of institutional support for at-risk children, we advocated for the establishment of a dedicated government body. This led to the creation of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) by the Government of Punjab, initially based at The Children’s Hospital in Lahore. We also pioneered the first Academic Child Rights Department in the Global South at the University of Lahore. In 2009, we launched South Asia’s first Child Protection Unit (CPU) at The Children’s Hospital, Lahore. Over the years, the initiative expanded, and we are now aiming to extend our reach to 19 districts.

As our work evolved, we shifted from a reactive response model to a proactive, community-driven approach. Today, we lead a localized model for child health, nutrition, nurturing, and protection through the Khushhal Khandan Program. Throughout our journey, we have responded to natural disasters like floods and crises such as COVID-19, providing healthcare, social, and psychological support to affected communities. Guided by ongoing research and a deep understanding of regional vulnerabilities, we work to address all forms of abuse, physical, emotional, medical, situational, and sexual, with a focus on underdeveloped areas where children are most at risk.

But we’re not stopping here. The journey ahead is even bigger, and we are walking it side by side with every family we serve.