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SARAH AHMAD
(Tamgha-e-IMTIAZ)
Chairperson, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau (Punjab)
Member Provincial Assembly (Punjab)
Convener, Parliamentary Child Rights Caucus (Punjab)
Child Rights Activist
Chairperson, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau (Punjab) & Member Provincial Assembly (Punjab)
Sarah Ahmad is a globally recognized child protection activist whose award-winning work has transformed the lives of countless vulnerable children. As an MPA and the Chairperson of the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau, Government of Punjab, she has dedicated her career to fighting crime, exploitation, neglect, and abuse against children.
Under her leadership, the Bureau has undergone a transformative revamp, focusing on the protection, rehabilitation, and empowerment of at-risk children. Her efforts have included facilitating the adoption of abandoned infants, reuniting missing children with their families, and raising awareness to combat child beggary and abuse.
Currently, Sarah oversees the care of more than 1,200 street children across Punjab.
Sarah’s global recognition includes being the only Pakistani recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2024 for her outstanding contributions to child protection. She has also received the Global Collaborative Award in Rome (2022), and Pakistan’s International Woman of Courage Award by U.S. Ambassador Donald A. Blome (2024). Additionally, she represented Pakistan at the United Nations Conference on Child Sexual Abuse in 2023 and made key pledges on behalf of the Government of Pakistan at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Child Protection in Colombia.
Her tireless dedication continues to shape the future of child welfare in Pakistan and beyond.
Sarah Ahmad’s journey from grassroot campaigns to international forums has inspired change at every level.
Sarah Ahmad’s Contribution for Child Protection in Pakistan
Fearlessly Defending the Future of Our Children
Since Sarah Ahmad became the Chairperson of the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau Punjab in February 2019, she has been a staunch defender of children’s rights. Her efforts focus on rescuing children from perilous circumstances and equipping them with the opportunities and support needed to thrive and embrace a future filled with promise.
Over the years, Sarah has led several groundbreaking initiatives to rescue and rehabilitate street children and abandoned infant girls, reunite families, dismantle the child trafficking mafia, eradicate child beggary, raise the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 years, and outlaw child domestic labor. She works tirelessly to identify and address pressing issues faced by children, foster cooperation between child welfare agencies and the police, raise mass awareness, and encourage public involvement to drive meaningful change in society.
Every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment to learn, grow, and thrive.
THE IMPACT
Through unified efforts between government bodies, non-profit organizations, and caring citizens, children are receiving the protection and opportunities they need to build a promising, secure tomorrow. Under the leadership of Chairperson Sarah Ahmad, the CPWB has achieved the following from 2019 till 2025:
41,300+
Children Reunited with their Families
250+
Abandoned Infants Adopted
45,000+
Street Children Rescued
5,000+
Sexual Abuse Survivors Rehabilitated
MEDIA APPEARANCES
MPA Sarah Ahmad’s impactful work has garnered significant attention across multiple platforms, highlighting her tangible successes.
Sarah Ahmad has made prominent national television appearances to discuss issues about child protection in Pakistan and provide actionable solutions to resolve them. She has also sparked crucial conversations about the same in the Punjab Assembly and during the many seminars and conferences she’s invited to.
ON TELEVISION
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION AND AWARDS
Representing Pakistan at the UN Conference on September 21, 2023. MPA Sarah Ahmad emphasized child protection challenges and CPWB’s collaborative efforts to eradicate violence and injustice against children.
Representing Pakistan at the UN Conference on September 21, 2023, MPA Sarah Ahmad emphasized child protection challenges and CPWB’s collaborative efforts to eradicate violence and injustice against children.
Speech at
United Nations
First Pakistani woman to receive the International Courage Award organised by the US state department presented by the US Ambassador Donald Blome in March 2023.
First Pakistani woman to receive the International Woman of Courage Award from US Ambassador Donald Blome in March 2023.
Pakistan’s International Woman of Courage Award organised by the US State Department
Was awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 23 March 2024.
Tamgha-E-Imtiaz by The Goverment of Pakistan
Received the Global Collaborative Award in Rome, Italy, in September 2022 for her work on child sexual abuse.
Global Collaborative Award
Represented Pakistan at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Bogota, Colombia.
Global Ministerial Conference
My Speech at The United Nations
“Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. We must all work together to create a world where children can thrive and reach their full potential.”
Sarah Ahmad | MPA and Chairperson of the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau
The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab (CPWB)
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The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab (CPWB) is committed to safeguarding children against abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Under the patronage of Chief Minister of Punjab, the Bureau has implemented innovative strategies that have significantly reduced child vulnerability and influenced critical legislative reforms.
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Under the visionary leadership of Sarah Ahmad, this government department has expanded to 9 different locations in Punjab, with 17 district offices (and counting). It is dedicated to providing food, shelter, rehabilitation, education, empowering and vocational training to the needy and destitute. Abandoned children are adopted into loving families, while runaways and those lost are reunited with their families after necessary psycho-social counseling by clinical psychologists.
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The goal is to ensure every child exits the Bureau as an independent, well-rounded individual capable of living with dignity, safety, and respect.
Sarah as a Mother of Thousands of Children
Sarah’s biggest achievements in transforming lives of children include empowerment of bureau’s resident children & providing them employment in multinational companies, which was not being done earlier.
She also spearheaded the establishment of a multi-sports complex for the bureau's children, where professional training coaches help develop their skills and confidence in a safe and supportive environment.
MPA SARAH AHMAD AS A SPEAKER
Sarah Ahmad is an engaging speaker who tirelessly advocates child protection, women empowerment, and social welfare initiatives, inspiring audiences with her transformative approach to community-driven policy and action.
CELEBRITIES AND NEWS ANCHORS ENDORSING MPA SARAH AHMAD
CONNECT WITH MPA SARAH AHMAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Sarah Ahmad’s journey and advocacy efforts across social platforms and join the conversation about creating safer, healthier, brighter futures for children in Pakistan.