President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday signed the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020 into law, providing for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 million on the perpetrators of child abuse.

The president said on Twitter after signing bill, “I have just signed the Zainab Alert Bill into law. An excellent law for rapid response & recovery in cases of child kidnappings. It will establish toll free helplines, lay down framework for quick police & admin response. It will use & improve upon technology to trace criminals.”

I have just signed the Zainab Alert Bill into law. An excellent law for rapid response & recovery in cases of child kidnappings. It will establish toll free helplines, lay down framework for quick police & admin response. It will use & improve upon technology to trace criminals.

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 19, 2020

He added, Under the new law, toll-free helplines would be established besides laying down the framework for quick police and admin response. It will use and improve upon
technology to trace criminals.

Upper house passes Zainab Altert Bill 2020

Earlier on March 4, The Senate on Wednesday approved the Zainab Alert Bill by a majority, Response and Recovery Act, 2020.

The bill was presented for approval in the upper house by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Swati and was passed despite objections to some of its provisions by opposition lawmakers.