LAHORE: Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) reunited 44 missing children recovered from across the province with their families at a ceremony held at the Central Police Office here on Friday.

Some of these children had fallen prey to drugs, physical abuse, while others had run away from their homes owing to multiple reasons.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar, CCDAdditional IG Sohail Zafar Chattha, DIGs Umar Farooq Salamat and Waqasul Hassan were also present.

Addressing the event, the IGP said that to reform the societal structure, it is necessary to protect children from sexual predators, falling into the world of crime and make them useful citizens.

He said the recovered children, who were victims of drugs and abuse, along with their parents, are being provided counseling by psychologists.

Additional IG Chattha said theCCD recovered these 40 children, who belonged to various cities including Ghotki, Karachi, Swat, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Lahore, in the shortest possible time.

The parents of 13 other recovered children were being traced, he said. Orphaned children will be handed over to the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, SOS Village, and rehabilitation centres. He said most of the runaway children were recovered from Data Darbar, railway stations, and bus stands.

He said that 13 children ranaway due to excessive work, 15 because of scolding and beatings by parents or teachers, while 16 others became victims of drugs and abuse at the hands of criminals, adding that the arrests of the criminals involved are being ensured.

Mr Chatha said that under the law the e-tagging of suspects involved in child sexual abuse has been initiated.

He said the search for these children was carried out through the Hamara Pyara App, Virtual Child Protection Centre, NGOs, and social media.