Interest and affiliation with the Child Rights Movement has been instrumental in understanding and enriching the complex realities and needs of the children in the country. This has provided a forum to come across individuals and organizations whose knowledge and commitment is commendable. This, in turn provides the food for thought to learn and to contribute.

UGOOD, as the current Secretariat of National Child Rights Movement provided the opportunity to undertake the study to conduct an analysis of the federal budget for the FY 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The initiation of the process led to the understanding of the process of allocation in the making of the budget is undertaken. The post 18th context has limited the role of the federal government in allocation of resources for education and health sectors as it is now treated as provincial subjects.

In the preparatory work for conducting the study, there has been tremendous technical and moral support. It will be pure injustice not to mention a few. The discussions with Mr. Ali Salman (Executive Director PRIME and an Economist) provided the road map to proceed. In this endeavour, Syed EjazWasti, Chief Economic Adviser and Mr.Zill-e-Husnain, Assistant Economic Adviser (Finance Division, Govt. of Pakistan) generous support in terms of time and access to the data is highly appreciated. Mr. Hassan Ali Mangi, Director General at the Ministry of Human Rights, Law & Justice has been kind to connect with Mr. Khalid Lateef and Mr.Haroon-ur-Rehman, (Director & Deputy Director National Commission for Child Welfare & Protection) provided an insight and the prevailing lack of coordination among the federal line departments working exclusively with a specified area with respect to Children. This was further testified with telephonic discussions with senior personnel at Economic Affairs Division and Capital Administration and Development Division.

Syed IshtiaqUl Hassan Gillani, CEO UGOOD and Ms. Shaista Bano, Director General has been the source of support and encouragement in the completion of the study. It would be sheer injustice not to mention Mr. Saad Yousaf and Mr. Zahoor Subhani for the cosmetic uplift of the study to make it presentable and reader friendly. A big thanks to Mr. Arshad Mehmood, Mr. Sajjad Ahmed Cheema and Mr. Adeel Ahmed whose initial discussion, endorsement and word of caution of incorporating the option of review of literature on child budgeting and analysis of federal budget will be an uphill task. The key for corrective measures for addressing the gap in allocation of resources from children’s perspective in my opinion was to present options at the global arena within the developing countries for budgeting from the children’s perspective. It is within reach. It requires a strong political will to initiate. Aaliya Tahirkheli Consultant