CHILD labour is a serious issue all over the world. In Pakistan it is on the increase because families are finding it hard to make ends meet. Poverty is a major problem in Pakistan and the cause of child labour in the country. Child labour causes mental, physical, moral and social harm to children.

The number of child labourers in Pakistan is about 10 million. According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, almost 3.8 million children aged between 5-14 years are working in Pakistan out of a total 40 million children. Almost 50 per cent of these economically active children are in 5 to 9 years age group. Almost 2.7 million of these children work in the agricultural sector.

The government has made primary education compulsory for everyone. But action should speak louder than words.

It is the government’s responsibility to open and rum more schools to ensure quality education for all citizens. This is the only way to ensure that the future of Pakistan is safe and educated.

Yousuf Darya

Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 25th , 2014