Renowned actor Saba Qamar has officially been appointed as UNICEF’s first National Ambassador for child rights in Pakistan. The announcement coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to recognizing girls’ rights and addressing the unique challenges they face globally.
“It’s an honor to join UNICEF. I will echo our shared mission of achieving every right for every child wherever I am,” stated Ms. Qamar. Reflecting on her recent travels, she noted the significant challenges faced by children and women in Pakistan, as well as the positive impact of UNICEF’s dedicated efforts. “I promise to play my part for the children and young people of Pakistan so that they can dream and have the chance to fulfill their dreams,” she added.
As UNICEF Pakistan’s National Ambassador, the star of Kamli and Hindi Medium aims to leverage her platform to raise awareness about various children’s rights issues. These include child marriage, mental health, educational disparities, gender equality, climate change, and the effects of violence, exploitation, and child poverty.
Child marriage poses a considerable barrier to girls’ rights in Pakistan, where approximately 19 million child brides reside—ranking the country as having the sixth highest rate globally. Disturbingly, over half of adolescent girls in Pakistan are pregnant before turning 18, a situation that can threaten the health of both mother and child.
UNICEF warns that without immediate action, the elimination of child marriage in Pakistan could take decades. A comprehensive societal approach is necessary to combat this harmful practice and protect the current and future generations of young girls, who represent one of the nation’s greatest untapped resources.
“I am delighted to welcome Saba to UNICEF. Ms. Qamar is a brave and powerful advocate for women and girls’ rights. We look forward to collaborating closely to draw attention to some of the biggest challenges facing children in Pakistan today and accelerating our efforts to help every child reach their true potential,” remarked Mr. Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.
