Pakistan becomes only country with Two Projects Shortlisted at UN WSIS 2026
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
ISLAMABAD – Historic milestone for Pakistan as the South Asian nation becomes the only country globally to secure two shortlisted projects in the highly competitive e-governance category at the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2026. Punjab Safe Cities Authority’s “Virtual Center for Child Safety (Mera Pyara)” has been ranked among the Top 5 Global Champion Projects, marking a significant breakthrough for the province’s growing digital governance ecosystem. The achievement speaks of a rapid shift in public service delivery in Punjab, with officials crediting the progress to an expanded focus on smart governance, technology-led policing, and citizen-centric digital platforms under the provincial leadership. WSIS Prizes, organized under the United Nations framework, are regarded as one of the world’s most respected platforms for recognizing excellence in information and communication technologies for development. In April 2026, two flagship initiatives of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority—the Virtual Women Police Station and the Virtual Center for Child Safety (Mera Pyara)—were both shortlisted, placing Pakistan in a unique position as the only country with two nominations in the same e-governance category. “Mera Pyara” initiative has drawn particular global attention for its impact on child protection and digital response systems. According to official figures, the platform has addressed concerns involving more than 145,000 children, resolved over 54,000 missing children cases, and helped reunite more than 77,000 children with their families, including vulnerable children with special needs. Beyond case management, the system also provides digital intervention in cases of child exploitation, online harassment, cyber threats, and related safety issues, offering a coordinated and technology-driven response mechanism. Officials from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority described the recognition as a strong endorsement of Pakistan’s emerging