By Faiza Zafar
ISLAMABAD – UNICEF Pakistan hosted a high-level event titled “Child Labour Surveys: Evidence For Action”, bringing together representatives from federal and provincial governments, labour departments, development partners, international organizations, researchers, civil society, and media professionals to discuss the latest evidence on child labour in Pakistan and identify practical measures for its eradication.
The event underscored the critical role of reliable and up-to-date data in shaping effective policies and interventions aimed at protecting children from exploitation and ensuring their right to education, safety, and development.
Participants emphasized that evidence-based policymaking is essential for addressing the root causes of child labour and accelerating progress toward its elimination.
During the event, alarming statistics highlighted the scale of the challenge facing Pakistan. It was shared that approximately 8.6 million children aged 5–17 years are engaged in child labour across the country.
Furthermore, around 25.1 million children aged 5–16 years remain out of school, making them particularly vulnerable to economic exploitation and hazardous work.
Survey findings also revealed that nearly 88 percent of child labour cases are concentrated in Rural areas, with agriculture and informal sectors accounting for the majority of child workers.
The discussions also placed Pakistan’s situation within the global context, where an estimated 138 million children worldwide continue to be involved in child labour despite significant
Progress made over the past two decades. Participants noted that previous UNICEF estimates
Had identified approximately 3.3 million Pakistani children trapped in child labour, further reinforcing the need for updated and comprehensive survey data to guide policy responses.
The event was attended by senior officials from UNICEF Pakistan including the Country
Representative Pernille Ironside, Barrister Aqeel Malik,Minister of State of Law & Justice, Ms Rabiya Javeri Agha Chairperson-NCHR, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson NCRC, Ms Sarwat Gillani- Actor, Activist & Philanthropist, Mr. Syed Saghir Bukhari representative of the International Labour Organization (ILO), honourable Justice Ayesha Malik- Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan & Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar – Federal Minister for Human Rights along with policymakers, academics, child rights advocates, development partners, and media representatives. Stakeholders exchanged views on strengthening institutional coordination and translating survey findings into meaningful action on the ground.
A number of key outcomes emerged from the discussions. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to utilizing child labour survey data for evidence-based policymaking and programme design. There was broad consensus on the need for stronger collaboration between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, enhanced labour inspection mechanisms, expanded social protection programmes, and targeted poverty alleviation initiatives. Particular emphasis was placed on improving access to quality education, recognized as one of the most effective tools for preventing child labour and breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty.
Concluding the event, speakers stressed that ending child labour requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that combines effective legislation, quality education, social protection, economic empowerment of vulnerable families, responsible business practices, and robust data systems. The child labour surveys were recognized as a vital evidence base for informing future interventions and accelerating Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate child labour in all its forms.
