Telenor Pakistan and UNICEF have partnered to hand over the Digital Birth Registration (DBR) system to the Sindh government using cutting-edge technology. The Sindh government is preparing to take over the DBR program and scale it across the province after a successful launch in three pilot districts.
The DBR project was handed over to the provincial government at an event in Karachi attended by officials from Telenor Pakistan, UNICEF, and the Sindh government.
Since its inception in 2017, the program, which aims to register children under the age of 17, has helped identify the identities of around 1.8 million children across the country.
The DBR project ensures that every child receives their fundamental right to identification, resulting in improved access to education, healthcare, and basic human rights.
CEO Telenor Pakistan Irfan Wahab Khan underlined the relevance of the DBR system, saying that it is critical in the country’s efforts to achieve its development goals.
“Birth registration is the fundamental right of every child and is a legal proof of their existence,” the executive stressed. “Every life registered through the DBR platform takes the nation another step closer to the fulfillment of country’s development goals, and even more importantly, plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of inequalities and socio-economic disparities.”
VP Sustainability and Partnerships at Telenor Group Zainab Hussain Siddiqui was also present at the project transfer ceremony, where she stated that the DBR originated as a way to effectively use technology to provide children their fundamental right to an identity.
“Today the project is set to take on a larger scale, helping more children access their right to a future,” she stated. “This progress has been possible thanks to strong collaboration with our global partner Unicef and the support and engagement of relevant government agencies.”
To read our blog on Zong 4G and UNICEF Pakistan partner to create awareness around COVID-19, click here.
