The Punjab Prosecutor General has called for a formal mechanism to screen all current and future employees of educational institutions against Pakistan’s Sex Offenders Register. The proposal aims to strengthen child protection and prevent convicted offenders from working in schools, colleges, and universities.
Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah submitted the request to the provincial Public Prosecution Department, which will forward it to the federal Ministry of Law and Justice. He stated that the Sex Offenders Register, maintained by NADRA, is an essential national tool but remains underused in environments where children and young adults are most vulnerable.
The proposal seeks a system that allows all public and private educational institutions to verify applicants through the national sex offender database before completing hiring. It also recommends screening all existing faculty, teaching staff, and non-teaching employees.
Shah urged the federal government to make this verification mandatory for recruitment nationwide and to issue clear guidelines to universities, colleges, and schools. He warned that conventional background checks cannot identify individuals previously convicted of sexual crimes, leaving a dangerous loophole for offenders to re-enter academic settings.
If approved, the verification system would act as a deterrent and a proactive safety measure. Pakistan recorded 1,828 child sexual abuse cases in 2024, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards in educational environments.