CPWB chairperson urges promotion of thalassemia screening before marriage

LAHORE - Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) on Saturday said that child protection begins even before birth, stressing the need for greater awareness about genetic risks, pre-marital thalassemia screening and genetic counselling. Addressing the international Conference on Human Reproductive Health (CRAFT-2026) at a local hotel here on Saturday, she appreciated renowned gynaecologist, Dr Arshad Chauhan for including cousin marriage among the key subjects of the conference. She also lauded Prof Dr Rashid Latif and the panel of experts for their discussion based on scientific evidence and public awareness. Chairperson Sara Ahmed said more than 80,000 children had been rescued by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau(CPWB) since its establishment while over 1,200 children were currently under its care. She said the burden of preventable diseases faced by families could further complicate issues relating to child protection and welfare.