Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Act, 2018

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THE ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY CHILD 
PROTECTION ACT, 2018 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
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SECTIONS: 
l.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
3.  Factors for determining the best interest of a child. 
4.  Restriction on parental custody. 
5.  Child in need of care. 
6.  Establishment of Child Protection Advisory Board. 
7.  Composition of the Board. 
8.  Functions and powers of the Board. 
9.  Functions and appointment of Director General. 
10.  Establishment of Child Protection Institutions. 
11.  Functions of Child Protection Institutions. 
12.  Initial assessment. 
13.  Comprehensive assessment. 
14.  Child care plan. 
15.  Consent of the parents or guardian. 
16.  Care and placement of a child. 
17.  Application to the Court and its procedure. 
18.  Emergency power. 
19.  Provisions in respect of a child who leaves an alternative care. 
20.  Care of girl child. 
21.  Seek and Find Order. 
22.  Interim orders. 
 
Updated Till 22.8.2022

 
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23.  Appeal. 
24.  Review. 
25.  Registration of an unattended child. 
26.  Child Protection and Care Fund. 
27.  Reports to be treated as confidential. 
28.  Prohibition of publication of names, etc., of child involved in any proceeding under this Act. 
 
29.  Officers appointed under this Act to be public servants. 
30.  Power to make rules. 
31.  Act to override other laws. 
 
 
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THE ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY CHILD PROTECTION ACT, 2018 
 
ACT No. XXI OF 2018 
 
An Act to provide for the protection and care of children in the Islamabad Capital Territory 
 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for protection and care of children in Islamabad Capital 
Territory from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury, neglect, maltreatment, exploitation, 
abuse and matters ancillary thereto; 
 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(l) This Act may be called the Islamabad Capital 
Territory Child Protection Act, 2018. 
 
(2) It extends to the whole of the Islamabad Capital Territory. 
 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
2. Definitions.—(l) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, — 
 
(a)  “alternative care” includes family care, placement in an institution established 
or regulated by the government or any other arrangement in the best interest of 
a child, as directed by the Court; 
 
(b)  “Board” means the Child Protection Advisory Board established under  
section 6; 
 
(c)  “caregiver” includes government institutions and other organizations including 
non-governmental organizations, providing necessary age and gender -
appropriate services for admission, care, protection and rehabilitation of  
children in need of care, recognized under this Act or the rules made thereunder; 
 
(d)  “child” means a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years;  
 
(e)  “child abuse” means physical or mental violence, injury, exploitation , neglect 
or negligent treatment, maltreatment or sexual abuse; 
 
(f)  “child exploitation ” includes all types of exploitat ion prejudicial to the 
protection and care of  a child including exploitation in terrorist activities, 
medical or scientific experimentation, sports or performing arts etc.; 
 
(g)  “Child p rotection Institution ” means the Child Protection Institution   
established under sub-section ( l) of section 1 0; 
 
(h)  “Child Protection Officer ” means a Child Protection Officer appointed  under 
sub-section (2) of section 10; 
 
 
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(i) “child care plan” means a plan containing details of the services to be provided 
to the child, based on a comprehensive assessment of the child and his family 
under section 14; 
 
(j)  “comprehensive assessment ” means an analysis undertaken by a Child 
Protection Officer under section 13, to determine as to whether a child requires 
care in accordance with the provisions of this Act; 
 
(k)  “Court” means the Family Court established under the Family Courts  Act, 
1964(XXXV of 1964); 
 
(l)  “Government means the Federal Government; 
 
(m)  “guardian” means a person, other than a biological parent who has parental 
responsibility for a child, which may include a guardian appointed under the 
Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (VIII of 1890); 
 
(n)  “initial assessment” means a preliminary analysis, under section 12, of whether 
a child requires protection; 
 
(o)  “maltreatment” means cruel treatment meted out to a child resulting from 
ignorance or wilful neglect; 
 
(p)  “mental violence” means subjecting or exposing a child to s caring, terrorizing 
and threatening behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including 
anxiety, chronic depression, or any other treatment which may diminish the 
sense of identity, dignity and self-respect; 
 
(q)  “neglect” means failure on the par t of natural or legal guardian or institution 
responsible for care of the child, to provide the child with physical, 
psychological and educational needs; 
 
(r)  “physical violence” includes corporal punishment and all other forms of torture, 
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 
 
(s)  “prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 
 
(t)  “sexual abuse and exploitation” includes the inducement or coercion of a child 
to engage in any unlawful sexual activity including use of children in audio or 
visual images for child pornography, child prostitution, trafficking within and 
between countries for sexual exploitation and sale of children for sexual 
purposes; 
 
(u)  “supervision order ” means the lawful supervision of a child by a Child 
Protection Officer for the purpose of ensuring that the child is protected in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act; and 
 
(v)  “unattended child” means a child with unknown parentage, orphan, abandoned, 
neglected and destitute, homeless or not in the legal custody of anyone. 
 
 
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(2) A ll other words and expressions used but not defined in this Act shal l have the same 
meaning as assigned to them in respective laws for the time being in force. 
 
3. Factors for determining the best interest of a child.—The factors to be taken into account 
while determining the best interest of a child shall include — 
 
(a)  child protection, care, well-being and safety of a child;  
 
(b)  physical and emotional needs of a child; 
 
(c)  religious and cultural views of a child; 
 
(d)  level of education and educational requirements of a child; 
 
(e)  considering family as a preferred environment for the care a nd upbringing of a 
child; and 
 
(f)  effect on a child of delay in making a decision. 
 
4. Restriction on parental custody.— The Court may restrict the exercise of parental custody 
and control of a child when, — 
 
(a)  a child is at risk of significant harm and is in need of care; 
 
(b)  a child is subject of a child care plan; or 
 
(c)  a child is subject of emergency powers exercised by a Child Protection Officer 
under this Act. 
 
5. Child in need of care.—A child in need of protection and care shall include a child who— 
 
(a)  has been subjected to or is under serious threat of being subjected to child abuse 
or child exploitation while in the care of parents, legal  guardian or any other 
person who has custody of the child in any manner; or 
 
(b)  is unattended, victim of an offence, child, domestic and such other workers, 
found begging, imprisoned with the mother or lives in an immoral environment. 
 
6. Establishment of Child Protection Advisory  Board.— As soon as may be after the 
commencement of this Act, but not later than three months, the  1[Prime Minister] shall establish an 
Advisory Board to be known as the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Advisory Board.  
 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. by the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022 (II of 2022), s. 2.  
 
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7. Composition of the Board.—(1) The Board shall consist of the following, namely:— 
 
(a)  one person from a non-governmental organization;  
 
(b)  one expert of sociology, psychology or related social sciences; 
 
(c)  one member of Islamabad High Court Bar Association; and 
 
(d)  one person representing minorities. 
 
xii.  Director General appointed under section 9.                Secretary/Members 
 
i. Minister- in-Charge Patron 
 
ii. 
 
Secretary of the Division to which subject of child protection 
stands allocated 
Chairperson 
 
iii. Secretary or his nominee not below the rank of BPS-20 of 
the Division to which subject of development and 
rehabilitation of children stands allocated. 
Ex-officio 
Member 
iv. Secretary, Law and Justice Division or his nominee not 
below the rank of BPS-20 Secretary 
Ex-officio 
Member 
v. Secretary, Interior Division or his nominee not below the 
ranks of BPS-20 
Ex-officio 
Member 
vi. Inspector General of Police, Islamabad or his nominee not 
below the rank of SSP. 
Ex-officio 
Member 
vii. A representative from National Commission on the Status of 
Women. 
Ex-officio 
Member 
viii. A representative from National Commission on Human 
Rights. 
Ex-officio 
Member 
ix. Mayor, Metropolitan Corporation, ICT. 
 
Ex-officio 
Member 
x. One Member of National Assembly, elected from the 
Islamabad Capital Territory, to be nominated by the Prime 
Minister. 
Members 
xi. A total of four persons from the following categories: Members 
 
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 (2) The members mentioned under clause (xi) of sub -section (1) shall be appointed by the 
Minister-in-charge from among persons having experience in the affairs of children and at least two 
of them shall be women. Each member shall be appointed for a term o f three years, extendable once 
for another similar term. 
 
(3) The allowances payable and terms and conditions as applicable to members, other than ex-
officio members, shall be such as may be prescribed; 
 
(4) Five members, including two ex -officio members, shall constitute quorum for meeting of 
the Board. 
 
(5) Subject to quorum, decision taken by majority of the members present and voting shall be 
construed as decision of the Board. 
 
(6) The Board shall hold at least two meetings in a calendar year.  
 
However, the Chairperson may call additional meetings, if and when required. 
 
8. Functions and powers of the Board.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board 
shall exercise such powers and take such measures as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes 
of this Act. 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the Board 
shall— 
 
(a)  advise the 1[Division concerned] on matters relating to  policy, legislation and 
implementation of rights of child to protection and care contained in domestic 
laws and international obligations; 
 
(b)  ensure effective coordination and implementation of child protection and care 
mechanism; 
 
(c)  maintain a child protection and care management information system and 
sponsor research to generate information, analysis and studies on child 
protection and care issues in Pakistan;   
 
(d)  recognize, regulate and inspect all caregiver organizations as to  whether these 
are functioning in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made 
there under; and 
 
(e)  submit annual report to the  1[Division concerned] at the end of each financial  
year. 
(3) The Board shall perform such other functions and exercise such other powers as may be 
necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act and to implement the policy directives issued by 
the 1[Division concerned] from time to time for protection and care of children. 
(4) The Board may constitute such committees as it deems necessary and delegate any of its 
powers and functions or assign duties in connection to its powers and functions as it may deem 
necessary for giving effect to the provisions of this Act. 
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1Subs. by the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022 (II of 2022), s. 3.  
 
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9. Functions and appointment of Director General.—(1) Subject to the general control and 
superintendence of the Board, the Director General shall perform such functions and duties and 
exercise such power as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 
(2) The Prime Minister, or a person authorized by him in this behalf, shall appoint a Director 
General for carrying out the purposes of this Act on the terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 
 
(3) The Director General shall perform supervisory functions of  the Child  Protection 
Institutions in the prescribed manner. 
 
(4) The Director General shall cause to prepare an annual report at the end of each financial 
year. 
 
10. Establishment of Child Protection Institutions.—( 1) The Minister -in-charge shall 
establish one or more Child Protection Institutions, as soon as may be practicable, after the 
commencement of this Act. 
 
(2) There shall be appointed an incharge of each Child Protection Institution and as many Child 
Protection Officers and support staff as required to carry out the purposes of this Act, under such terms 
and conditions as may be prescribed. 
 
11. Functions of Child Protection Institutions.—A Child Protection Institution shall perform 
the following functions, namely:— 
 
(a)  receive reports of children who are in need of protection and care; 
 
(b)  assess or based on reports whether a child requires care under the provisions of 
this Act; 
 
(c)  require services from the relevant department or institution for  protection and 
care of a child; 
 
(d)  maintain record of case management reports of a child in need of care; 
 
(e)  collect, maintain and update child protection and care case management data 
provided by Child Protection Officers; 
 
(f)  maintain and update data on child abusers and persons convicted of offences 
against children; and 
 
(g)  perform any other act ancillary to protection and care of child under this Act. 
 
12. Initial assessment.—(1) Whenever a Child Protection Officer receives a report that a child 
is in need of protection and care, he shall carry out, as soon as possible, an initial assessment as 
prescribed to determine whether the child requires care in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
 
(2) During initial assessment, the Child Protection Officer may request that the child and his 
parents, legal guardian or any other person responsible f or the care of the child, if an y, attend at such 
premises as may be specified by the Child Protection Officer, as may be prescribed. 
  
 
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13. Comprehensive assessment.—(1) Where initial assessment conducted in accordance with 
section 12, or emergency powers exercised by a child Protection officer under section 18, indicate that 
the child requires care, the child Protection officer shall undertake a comprehensive assessment of the 
child and his family environment, as may be Prescribed. 
 
(2) The comprehensive assessment shall be completed within thirty days of the completion of 
the initial assessment or exercise of emergency powers. 
 
(3) No comprehensive assessment shall be considered complete unless the child Protection 
officer has met with and heard views of the child where the child is of sufficient age and level of 
maturity. 
 
14. Child care plan.—(1) On completion of the comprehensive assessment if a child is found 
in need of care, the child Protection Officer shall develop a child care plan, as may be prescribed. 
 
(2) If a Child Protection Officer exercises emergency powers under section 18, the Child 
Protection Officer shall develop an interim child care plan. 
 
(3) The interim child care plan shall include a formal referral to an appropriate form of 
emergency alternative care. 
 
15. Consent of the parents or guardian.—Subject to section 16, the Child Protection Officer 
shall seek the consent of the parent, legal guardian or current carer of the child, if any, on the action to 
be taken and the services to be offered to the child. Such consent, under child care plan, shall be 
recorded in writing in the form of an agreement, as may be prescribed. 
 
16. Care and placement of a child.—Notwithstanding the provision of section 15, where the 
child care plan specifies that the child will be at risk of significant harm, abuse or exploitation if he 
remains in care of his parent, legal guardian or other current carer, if any, an application shall be made 
immediately to the Court for the care and placement of the child in an appropriate form of alternative 
care. 
 
17. Application to the Court and its procedure .—(1) Subject to the provisions of the  
Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (VIII of 1890), any application to the Court for care and placement of 
a child or to implement child care plan under this Act shall be made by the Child Protection Officer. 
 
(2)  Before making any order the Court shall— 
 
(a)  order parents, legal guardian or current carer, if any, of the child to make 
representations to the Court; 
 
(b)  consider the reports of and take evidence from the child Protection Officer and 
any other relevant parties to the proceedings; 
 
(c)  consider the Child Care Plan which must be filed as part of the application; and 
 
(d)  seek views of the child where the child is of sufficient age and level of maturity. 
 
 
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(3) Upon the application under sub -section (1), the Court may make such order as it deems 
necessary to ensure that the child is provided with appropriate care or alternative care services, as the 
case may be: 
 
Provided that the Court shall specify the length of time for which the care and placement order 
is applicable.  
 
18. Emergency power.—(l) Where Child Protection Officer has reasonable cause to believe 
that a child is in need of care within the meaning of section 5, he may take the unattended child  into 
care or remove the child from the custody of his parents, legal guardian or other current carer as the 
case may be. 
 
(2) Where care of an unattended child or removal of a child takes place under sub -section (1), 
the Child Protection Officer shall immediately inform parents, legal guardian or current carer, if any, 
of the child for reasons of taking the child into care and further steps to be taken. 
 
(3) When an unattended child has been taken into care or a child has been removed from the 
custody of his parents, guardian or any other person for care in accordance with sub -section (1), the 
Child Protection Officer shall,—— 
 
(a)  place the child immediately with a caregiver for interim care; 
 
(b)  apply to the Court within twenty-four hours for a formal Emergency Protection 
order. 
 
(4) Pending the determination of an application for an Emergency Protection Order, the Court 
shall not return a child to his home prior to the completion of an initial assessment by the Child 
Protection Officer. 
 
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) to (4), a child shall not be removed 
from his family, for a period exceeding three days, except through an interim order of the Court under 
exceptional circumstances to be recorded in writing. 
 
19. Provisions in respect of a child who leaves an alternative care.—(1) If any child leaves 
an alternative care provided under the provisions of this Act without permission of the caregiver, the 
person designated to provide such care shall immediately report the mat ter to the local police and the 
Child Protection Officer. 
 
(2) No child shall be returned to the same alternate care for placement without, — 
 
(a)  an investigation by the Child Protection Officer to determine the reasons  for 
such leaving; 
 
(b)  interviewing the child by the Child Protection Officer in the absence of any 
carer or staff from the said alternative care; and 
 
(c)  the Court being satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child to send him to 
the same or any other alternative care. 
 
 
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20. Care of girl child.—Under no circumstances a girl-child shall be taken into care or remain 
under the care of a male chiId protection officer or a male caregiver. 
 
21. Seek and Find Order.—Where a child is the subject of a Care and Placement Order under 
the provisions of this Act, and the child cannot be found, the Child Protection Officer may make an 
application to the Court for the production of the child before the Court. 
 
22. Interim orders.—(l) In any proceedings to be determined by the Court under this Act, the 
Court may make an interim order with respect to the child concerned. 
 
(2) Where the Court makes an interim order, it may give such directions, if any, as to the 
services or placement that the child shall receive, pending final disposal of the application. 
 
23. Appeal.—Any party to the proceedings may prefer an appeal against an order, including 
an interim order, passed by the Court, within a period of thirty days before the District Judge. 
 
24. Review.—Where a court order is in force, any party may apply to the Court for review of 
the order within a period of fifteen days of passing of such order. 
 
25. Registration of an unattended child .—(1) Every unattended child shall be registered in 
accordance with the provisions of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 
(VIII of2000), or any other law for the time being in force. 
 
(2) For the purposes of registration, every Child protection Institution and caregiver established 
or recognized under this Act shall be registered with the National Database and Registration Authority, 
or any other relevant authority for the time being in force. 
 
(3) The In -charge of a Child protectio n Institution or caregiver shall, for purposes of 
registration as provided in sub -sections (1) and (2), designate a guardian for the child. The name, 
computerized National Identity card Number and designation with specimen signature of the guardian 
shall be sent to National Database and Registration Authority, or any other relevant authority and the 
same guardian shall be considered as head for issuance of  child registration certificate to unattended 
chiId. 
 
(4) The guardian designated under sub -section (3) shall submit all record, duly attested, held 
by child protection Institution or caregiver to National Database and Registration Authority, or any 
other relevant authority, when the child was first registered with the same.  
 
26. Child Protection and Care Fund.—(1) The Government shall, as soon as may be after 
the commencement of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a child protection and 
care Fund for the purposes of this Act. 
 
(2) There shall also be credited to the Child protection and Care Fund such other sums as may 
be received by way of donation, contribution, assistance or otherwise from any individual, body 
corporate, financial institution and other organizations. 
 
(3) The Child Protection and Care Fund shall be utili zed for the child protection and care of 
un-attended child in such manners as may be prescribed. 
 
 
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27. Reports to be treated as confidential .—Any report of the Child Protection Officer shall 
be treated as confidential. However, the report shall be made available to the child, his parents, legal 
guardian or other carer, if any. 
 
28. Prohibition of publication of names, etc., of child involved in any proceeding under 
this Act.—(1) No report of a child made under the provisions of this Act shall be disclosed in media 
which leads to the identification of the child, nor shall any picture of such child be published, save 
that, for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Court may permit such disclosure, if in opinion of the 
Court such disclosure is in the best interests of the child. 
 
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub -section (1) shall be punishable by the 
Court with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. 
 
29. Officers appointed under this Act to be public servants.—The Child Protection Officers 
and other officers appointed in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Act shall be deemed to 
be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act No. XLV 
of 1860). 
 
30. Power to make rules.—The Minister-in-charge may, by notification in the official Gazette, 
make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 
31. Act to override other laws .—The provisions of this Act shall have overriding effect not 
withstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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