Islamabad: Chief guest of the event Minister for Human Rights and Law Mr Azam Nazeer Tarar in his address said that, Parenting plays a critical role in shaping the future of children, impacting their physical, emotional, and psychological development. In Pakistan, parents often face significant challenges in raising their children due to the lack of a structured guidance and support. The need for comprehensive parenting resources has become increasingly urgent, particularly in the context of rising mental health issues and behavioral problems among children and adolescents.
Through the development of the manuals, which are aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, emphasizing the holistic development of children and the importance of positive parenting practices, a positive change is foreseen.
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 launched the Art of Parenting manual. It includes Agoosh and Parwarish manuals to train the master trainers for parenting of children and adolescents. Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Health, Education, National Rahmatul lil Alameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority, and there affiliated departments played an important role in preparing the manual and making this launch a success. Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Quaid e Azam and Allama Iqbal Universities also played their part and pledged to contribute effectively.
Chairperson (NCSW), Nilofar Bakhtiar said that these manuals will play an important part to pave the way for development of the nation. Training and parenting of Children from their birth to age 9 will be through Agoosh while for adolescents falling under the age group 9 to 19 years of age Parwarish manual of the guideline is being launched. We are heading towards a better Pakistan, for this our partner organisations have contributed their expertise to establish a benefitting training mannual.
Aga Khan University and National Institute of Psychology presented the salient features and insights of the manuals.
Mr. Akhtar Iqbal, CEO Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan thanked the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and all the other actors who were involved in the rigorous process of the development of both parenting manuals of ‘Agosh’ and ‘Parvarish’ including The National institute of Psychology (NIPS) and the Aga Khan University (AKU). Parents play an important role in shaping the future generations in profound ways. These comprehensive parenting manuals cater to the needs of rural and urban areas. He noted that the operationalisation would be an important process. The activities in the manuals can be adapted according to the social and cultural context and be supplemented with local teaching approaches.
Guest of honour Mr. Rana Mashood Chairman Prime Minister Youth Program appreciated the efforts of NCSW and all the partner organisations, through this document our future will get brightened. Quite optimistically we are hopeful our progressing youths character development and there approch towards an enlightened future will improve through the implementation of such a guideline as parents will be trained to train their children.