INNOCENT souls, with tools and teacups in their delicate hands, are forced to work every day for survival. Some have an ailing father, while others have an aged mother, a paralyzed sister, or a feeding brother at home, compelling them to earn a penny to finance the needs of their loved ones. Just imagining these conditions is heartbreaking. The worst aspect is that these innocent kids are unaware they are losing their childhood. Indeed, child labour is a curse and an international crime.
According to a 2023 United Nations report, approximately 3.4 million Pakistani children, aged 5-18, are trapped in child labour. This striking figure paints a bleak picture of childhood in Pakistan. As an agricultural country, it’s common for the rural agricultural sector to absorb over three-quarters of child labour, as children are the cheapest labour available.
Similarly, in urban centres, children work in production sectors, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and sell items on roads in unfavourable weather conditions. Young girls are recruited as domestic workers and servers, performing various tasks with minimal rest and proper food, often facing abuse and domestic violence.
Imagine the suffering they endure. The same UN report reveals that these children mostly come from areas with extreme economic deprivation, such as South Punjab, rural Sindh, the tribal belt of KP, and villages of Balochistan. Economic compulsions force these kids to leave their homes early, holding tools instead of pencils.
The lack of government facilities in the education sector pushes children into the working class, making them a potential pool of child labourers. Depriving children of proper education and skill development stunts their intellectual growth, making them vulnerable to market forces and lifelong labour.
Pakistan must adhere to UN, UNICEF, and other international organizations’ conventions regarding child labour. The country’s laws on child protection must be enforced. As per Article 25A of the constitution, free education should be available to every child in Pakistan. By addressing this issue, the country can cultivate an educated and skilled human capital. Every child is the future of the nation.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
