Data shows that there are approximately 8.6 million children within the nation that are involved in child labour. Also, 6.6 million of those children are involved in dangerous labour environments. The root causes of the continued occurrence of child labour in Pakistan are complex but undeniable. The country is plagued by poverty, a lack of access to quality education and a complete lack of enforcement of its existing labour laws. Although Pakistan has implemented various labour laws, they have been largely ineffective in reducing the incidence of child labour.
If this issue is left unaddressed, it will lead to a cycle of poverty and illiteracy that will hinder the country’s social and economic development for many generations to come. Therefore, both the federal and provincial governments must act urgently to combat of child labour.
Ayesha Sagheer
Lahore
