Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation

Eid Mubarak!

We at The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) wish our Muslim friends around the world a happy and peaceful Eid!

May God Almighty accept your sacrifices, devotion, and good deeds, and shower your home with endless joy, peace, and prosperity.

Wishing Everyone A Blessed Eid

The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) welcomes the passing of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by the Punjab Assembly.
This essential legislation sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 years for both girls and boys and declares underage marriage a non-bailable offense.

In welcoming this decision Ms Michelle Chaudhry President of The CICF stated "this is certainly a step in the right direction, we at The CICF have long advocated for this reform. However, the real work begins now, we must focus on effective implementation and mass awareness to ensure the safety and protection that every child deserves."

Media Cell
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation(CICF)
Lahore - Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

Punjab Assembly passes bill setting minimum marriage age at 18 for both males and females Bill passed with majority vote but after heated debate as lawmakers were not initially provided copies of the legislation.

13th April 2012 – 14 Years Today

The CICF Remembers Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry

"It is not important for the world to know that we feel a loss;
But it is important for posterity to know the greatness of him who makes us grieve...."

Lahore: Today on his fourteenth death anniversary we hold Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry in our prayers, hearts and thoughts.
Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry was a man who devoted his entire life to not only protecting the geographical…..but also the ideological boundaries of Pakistan.

Whether it was achieving the highest level of professionalism in the Pakistan Air Force, or grooming the leaders of tomorrow by providing quality education to Pakistani Children or then standing up to protect the civil rights and dignity of simple ordinary people by promoting interfaith harmony, which has today become one of the core issues confronting our society……..Cecil Chaudhry gave it his all……and excelled.

Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry was a brave, courageous and an illustrious man. He was bestowed with numerous honors, from Gallantry Awards to equally high peace time citations.

During his 28 years’ service to the Pakistan Air Force, he achieved the highest level of professionalism. He fought the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 with great valor; for which he was awarded by the President of Pakistan the Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) one of the highest military awards of Pakistan and the Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct) for distinguished acts of gallantry, valor or courage while performing duty.

He went on to become one of the greatest exponents of Human Rights in Pakistan. He fought non-violently for the rights of the downtrodden, especially the religious minorities, with bravery and determination to bring about change for the better.
Cecil Chaudhry, supported by his wife, Iris Chaudhry, envisioned a Pakistan beyond social discrimination, religious extremism and rights violating human dignity.
He tirelessly worked for a just, tolerant and equitable Pakistan – Jinnah’s Pakistan.

In the field of education, his services were second to none. Despite numerous lucrative offers by various organizations and governments, Cecil Chaudhry chose to educate Pakistani children; to groom the leaders of tomorrow. He was a beacon of light and inspiration for thousands of Pakistanis.

Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry passed away on April 13, 2012; till the last days of his life he fought for the rights of the downtrodden and marginalized communities in Pakistan.

In 2014 Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry was posthumously awarded by the President of Pakistan, one of the country’s highest Presidential Awards - The President’s Award for Pride of Performance for his outstanding services in the fields of education and human rights; making him one of the few people in Pakistan to be awarded with both, the country’s highest Gallantry awards and highest Civil awards.

In November 2014 the then Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, in his honor renamed a portion of Lawrence Road Lahore to “Cecil Chaudhry Road”.

On 7th September 2016 the Pakistan Air Force and the Cantonment Board Sargodha honored Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry by building a roundabout on University Road Sargodha in his name.
“Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry Roundabout” was inaugurated by Air Vice Marshal Aamir Masood, Base Commander, PAF Base Mushaf.

In January 2025 the State of the Art “Cecil Chaudhry Complex” was established at The PAF Hospital in Islamabad.

Cecil Chaudhry was certainly one of Pakistan's most loved National Heroes.

We at The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) strife with absolute commitment and determination to keep Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry’s legacy alive as we endeavor to carry forward his vision and ideology.

“What lay behind him and what lay before him,
Are tiny matters compared to what lay within him”

May his soul rest in eternal peace – Amen

Media Cell
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)
Lahore – Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

"He is Risen..." Alleluia!

The Management and Staff of The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) wish you and your loved ones a very happy and blessed Easter!

May the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ bring peace and harmony to our troubled world and may this Easter be a call to rebuild what has been torn down, to comfort those who grieve, and to choose compassion over hatred.

Easter Blessings to Everyone!

Eid Mubarak!

We at The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) wish our Muslim friends around the world a happy, blessed and peaceful Eid!

On this blessed day we pray for all those innocent people who have lost their lives in the numerous incidents of violence and war across the world.
We hold deep in our hearts their loved ones who are left hurting and grieving.

May God bless our troubled world with the much-needed peace, love and tolerance Ameen.

Media Cell
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)
Lahore - Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

The management and staff of The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) wish a very Happy Holi to all our friends celebrating the festival of colors!!

The festival of Holi an ancient Hindu religious festival; celebrated as the festival of colors, the festival of love, the arrival of spring and the end of winter; it also celebrates the spirit of victory of good over evil.

May the colors of Holi spread the message of peace, love and tolerance hence enabling the victory of good over evil in our world today!

May God bless you and your loved ones with all the colors of love, happiness and prosperity!

Media Cell
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)
Lahore - Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

“National Symposium on Education Calls for Urgent Textbook Reforms and Inclusive Education in Pakistan”

Islamabad, February 25 2026 - The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF), in collaboration with the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) organized national dialogue on Textbook Reforms and Inclusive Education in Islamabad.

The Education Symposium brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, educationists, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives.

The symposium focused on examining Pakistan’s education system through a constitutional and child rights lens, particularly in light of Article 25-A, which guarantees free and compulsory education, and Article 22(1), which protects children from being compelled to receive religious instruction other than that of their own faith.

In her welcome address, Ms. Michelle Chaudhry, President of The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation, underscored the importance of aligning textbooks and curricula with constitutional values of equality, dignity, and pluralism. She highlighted CICF’s sustained work on education reform, including extensive research examining textbook content across subjects to assess its compliance with child rights standards and principles of non-discrimination. She noted that education must serve as a tool for unity and social cohesion rather than division.

Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of NCRC, in her opening remarks, reiterated the Commission’s mandate to safeguard the rights of children and stressed the need for child-centered policies in all sectors, particularly education. She observed that inclusive education is central to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that no child feels marginalized within the learning environment.

A panel discussion on textbook reforms and children’s rights brought together prominent experts from academia, minority rights advocacy, and curriculum development. The discussion examined existing gaps in textbook content, the representation of diverse communities, and the broader impact of educational narratives on social harmony.
Panelists included Dr. A. H Nayyer, Mr Pirbhu Satyani, Dr Tabbasun Naz, Dr. Afshan Huma and moderator Ms Zeeba Hashmi called for transparent review mechanisms, greater stakeholder engagement in curriculum development, and the integration of human rights education within mainstream subjects.

A subsequent session focused on inclusive education in Pakistan, highlighted the structural and social barriers faced by marginalized groups, including religious minorities, girls, and economically disadvantaged children.
The panel was moderated by Ms. Maham Afridi and included experts like Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Dr. Gulab Khilji and Dr. Riaz Sheikh. The speakers emphasized the need for systemic reforms to ensure equitable access to quality education, safe learning environments, and content that reflects Pakistan’s diverse social fabric.

The panels were followed by keynote address by Mr. Kaeso Mal Khael Das, Minister of State for Religious Affairs, and Senator Danesh Kumar, who outlined the government’s perspective on ongoing reforms and reaffirmed the importance of strengthening curriculum standards and oversight mechanisms.

The seminar concluded with remarks from education expert Dr. Khadim Hussain who summarized the deliberations and stressed that education policy must remain firmly rooted in constitutional principles and international human rights commitments.
He called for collaborative efforts among government institutions, statutory bodies, academia, and civil society to ensure sustainable and impactful reform.
Dr. Hussain then presented a strong declaration of commitments and demands for curriculum reforms and inclusive education that were endorsed by all participants.

Media Cell
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)
Lahore – Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

The CICF Launches “A Dive into the Education Landscape of Pakistan 2025” in Lahore

The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) convened a provincial consultation in Lahore on 15th January 2026 to share key findings from its latest research “A Dive into the Education Landscape of Pakistan 2025”.
The report sheds light on how school curricula and textbooks often perpetuate exclusionary narratives, gender biases, and religious intolerance. It highlights how such systemic issues hinder Pakistan’s ability to achieve SDG 4: Quality Education as part of the global agenda for sustainable development.

The consultation brought together parliamentarians, civil society members, researchers, and community representatives for an engaging and thoughtful dialogue.

The CICF’s President Ms. Michelle Chaudhry commenced the session by emphasizing how biased education affects not only religious minorities but society at large undermining national unity, social cohesion, and the vision of inclusive development.

Ms Chaudhry stated “In Pakistan’s 78 years of existence, we have witnessed the damaging impact that the academic curriculum has had on our society and its progress; particularly with respect to the religious minority communities. The enormous challenges endured by these communities have made biased education one of our primary concerns”.

The CICF’s Program Manager Mr Kashif Aslam presented the findings of the comprehensive research, shedding light on systemic gaps within curriculum development, textbook content, and their implications on the religious minorities and women. He emphasized the need for policy reforms that align with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards.

A Parliamentarians’ Panel, comprising of representation from the Punjab Assembly including Ms. Shakeela Javed Arthur and Mr. Waseem Anjam along with representatives of civil society Mr. Peter Jacob, Mr. Irfan M***i, Dr. Baela Raza Jamil, Mr. Ayaz Safdar Advocate, and Mr. Samson Salamat deliberated on legislative and policy measures required to ensure equitable and inclusive education.

The Panelists acknowledged the persistent challenges and expressed commitment to improving provincial mechanisms for curriculum review and minority protection through educational content.

Wrapping up the conversation, The CICF’s member of the expert group on education Dr. Aneel Samuel summarized the key takeaways and stressed the importance of sustained advocacy to implement meaningful reforms.

Media Cell
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)
Lahore – Pakistan
Email: [email protected]

The Management and Staff of The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) wish you and your loved ones a blessed and peaceful New Year!
May 2026 and all the years ahead be Healthy, Happy, Peaceful & Prosperous for all!

The Management and Staff at The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) Wish You and Your Loved Ones A Christmas Sparkling with Moments of Love, Peace and Goodwill.

May the Spirit of Christmas Bring Warmth, Happiness and Wellbeing to Your Lives.

Have a Wonderful Christmas!