LAHORE: A massive `child rescue drive` was held on Tuesday by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB), where 45 children, including 20 girls, were rescued from the streets and shifted to the bureau`s shelter home.

The drive began at 4pm and ended around midnight. Three teams comprising officials of the bureau were distributed all over the city. The teams were accompanied by officials from the DCO office, and also a police squad.

Bureau public relations of ficer Waseem Abbas said these children were rescued from the areas including railway station, Garhi Shahu, Data Darbar, Bhati Chowk, Saggian bridge, Ravi bridge, Iqbal Town, Johar Town, Model Town, Muslim Town, Ichhra, Defence and Gulberg.CPWB official Rizwan told Dawn that the rescued children were first taken to a government shelter. After their cases were investigated, they were taken to a child protection court. According to this law, those involved in sending a child into begging might receive three-year imprisonment and/or a fine of up to Rs50,000.

`The runaway children may be reunited with their families. However, we first investigate as to why these children run away from their families, and if there are serious problems like abuse, we take temporary custody of the child,` Rizwan said.

He said the drive was held every month, but this month the anti-beggary campaign had been the force behind this operation. The children were rescued under the Punjab Destitute and Neglecte d Children Act 2004, under which the bureau also operates.