Legalising it will give following benefits : 1. We can ban minors from getting into this trade. 2.We can decriminalise the entire trade. 3. We can protect the rights of sex workers. Some guys will raise moral issues and although we all would like to live in ideal world, but let us accept the facts And not brush things under the carpet.

At the time of PM Nehru, government decided to ban prostitution. Prostitutes in (Calcutta) Kolkota decided to takeout procession against the law. On enquiring how many prostitutes will be on the road and was informed nearly 20,000. He was surprised by the figure and postponed the decision. Just imagines how many prostitues are in India? Choice is yours. The reason, there is mass poverty and nobody has done anything to stop this business or done anything for these poor. It is better to legalise. Crackdown will spread this business in every street of India.

Please get the minors out of this rut.

Its really worrisome move on the part of activists,where minors are seen in this rut.

wow............... what kind of newspaper Dawn is turning into ?..................... promoting prostitution in our own country where most the readers belong to conservative Muslim back grounds.......... India is opening up like a prostitute to new clients every day we are not.

Legislation should be like UK.Organising or managing brothels and soliciting for sex should be illegal. It should be legal only for the lady who is doing prostitution for living where she has no other option to live.

@ghanshyam What you are saying makes sense. However experience in Europe has shown the legalizing prostitution has not solved problems. In Europe prostitution was legalized with the view that as it becomes a legal trade the workers will come under various social security nets and be given their due rights. However what has actually turned out is that legalizing has increased the availability of sex workers so much that they are "contracted" by the owners of firms at paltry sum and these women continue to have very poor life. You can Google how the German experience with legalization of prostitution has been and for that matter even Netherlands. These countries known for their liberal laws on prostitution have started re-thinking their stand on the issue. The thing is solution to this problem is not as easy as legalizing or banning.

I am doctor with world wide experience . Actually Legalization of Prostitution, Abortions and Freedom for sex for all the Citizens, minimizes all the Diseases and health complications on statistically basis that Politicians and Religious Peers can hardly understand. They will be clearly demarcated and we can screen them also help those who wants rehabilitation for normal jobs and city work.

@A Ali Dawn is only reporting - not promoting. Also, it is not about India or Pakistan or Muslim or Non-Muslim. I don't think there exists a religion that says prostitution is okay. Having said that, I don't think there exists a society where prostitution doesn't exist. It even happens in the animal kingdom (female Penguins are known to have sex with stranger Penguins in return for some rocks). It is the oldest profession in the world. For your information: There are many prostitutes and massage places in Pakistan as well. I am not for or against prostitution. But, it might help Pakistan devise a strategy on how to deal with prostitution when we see how other countries are dealing with this issue. Netherlands has been fairly successful in legalizing prostitution and drugs.

I don't understand how prostitudes with get their due rights if prostitution is legalised.

@ghanshyam I agree with you

I feel, prostitution should be legalized .. it will stop mafiyas, abduction of minors, even HIV can be curbed .. It has nothing to do with religion .. Can you imagine how many poor muslims in India sell their daughters .. Can you believe how many Hindu girls in India are abducted and then sold.. I believe liberalizing and legalizing certain things will shut the door for goons to dominate our country ..

India has the largest number of Prostitutes in the world and the government should legalize it to stop the spread of rape culture gaining ground. Also it will actually reduce the number of HIV cases as well.

India even as to date has the largest number of prostitutes in the world, Google any survey, legalizing will make the number even higher, as a flip-side, the positive thing is that it will bring them into some sort of social net and help their families.

@ghanshyam : By demanding regular medical checkups we can prevent the spread of disease.

Make Prostitution, Alcohol, Gambling and Drugs legal. Let's have a party. That's what I call freedom. Every body wins.

@Khalid Toronto There is no need for Pakistan to get cues from Netherland or for that matter any country for dealing with prostitution if it exists in any form here. This sinful practice must be stopped with the full force of law. There are hundreds of professions available to women to earn a decent living. Perhaps you have been living in Toronto too long.

Make it legal? Do they have no shame at all???

@A Ali well said.

Why not make any sort of prostitution illegal, and give these women education and skilled trade for jobs. Alas, in india, the customers are never ending.

@K.Ali Paganism and sexual deviance go hand in hand. The minority Muslim population ruled bulk of south asia (now india), the pagan population adopted some of the customs of Muslims, which came to be known in their culture as "sanskar" e.g to honour marriage and shun adultry, but since now there are no Muslims to tell these people right from wrong, they are free to do whatever they want, and are now degenerating back to their original pagan culture and practices. That includes idolatry and deviant sexual practices in public. This can be seen in the comment sections by the comments made by Indians. They are just finding one excuse after another to bring sexual deviance practices into the public.

@A Ali I am afraid journalistic standerds in Pakistan are going downhill for some time now. We just now have "English Grammar" news papers... Perhaps not even that, just "English Papers" loaded with political propoganda to promote western "liberal" values taught to them by their Engraz babu sahib, when they went abroad to learn English on US-Aid....

There used to be a red district in the center of Hyderabad as well as Karachi where people used to entertain at KOTHIES with music, songs, company and sex sold by prostitutes. It was understood that the prostitution is one of the oldest businesses where sex and related services were sold to the willing customers. No country is completely been successful in wiping out the sex business. The ban on sex business promulgated in Pakistan in 60's moved the prostitutes from the red districts to the inner city and prostitution spread out but did not disappear with the ban. I do not know of India but the business of prostitution exists all over the worldwhether we believe it or not. Legalizing the oldest business makes it a regulated business from health, safety and tax point of view. If you want to stop it provide them the cost of living and work so that they can live alive. If you can not provide work let them find work - sex business on there own.

If they think there's nothing wrong with being a sex worker why should they hide their faces in public?

@Anwar Amjad Force of law? In Pakistan? Law and Pakistan don't exactly go together considering the police record you know. ;)

Probably the first post on Dawn without any reference to Kashmir in the comments so far and I'm glad to see constructive arguments rather than the usual hate bile.

I hope dawn will issue my comment. Dear Pakistanis, we have a common saying "bad acha, badnam bura". Pakistan is famous for saying yes to everything the west asks for. But in fact we are defamed, India is doing more to make their lords (west) happy for instance gay marriages, planning to ban burqa and now legalising prostitution. In India, everything which can harm or benefit is a God, all societies which are becoming away from their religion or modifying religion according to thier own interest are developing fast just like India because they said yes to system of anti Christ. I accept that we are not good people but we still try to follow Islam up to possible extent (Indians please don't say that Islam orders to kill minorities, you also know that Islam cannot order such foolish things). we sacrificed a lot because of this mistake but at this stage if we deviate all of our sacrifices will be in vein. otherwise believe me or not if we start following this path which India is following, we will grow faster, there will be no suicide bombers any more. Have fear of Allah and try to remain faithful, do not cause harm to any one, there is dawn waiting on other side, if Muhammad's (PBUH) prophecies are true till now, we must trust that his words will be true which he said about what will happen after this stage. Muslims will again rule the world and then there will be zero crime and cruelty

@Einstein Babar OMG! More I read comments by people of this country more shocked I am. This is very very backward thinking.

India has world most pros. Means Modi and earlier Govt. Failed to provide education, living and security net. Yes legalizing will deal with most pressing issues like health etc.

@Ganga Din, Sometime be serious about atleast serious issues.

One turkish reformist leader once said:"Only prostitutes hide their faces behind veil". How true he was, is evident in these pictures.

@Beowulf Agate I guess you don't want this profession for your mother and sister, than why for others, India is striving for gender and human equality than why this difference is there, those who are prostitutes they are also humans. if we wish respect for our mother and sister than why not a respectable profession for prostitutes. If you still disagree than you may consider me from stone age

Who goes to these women?

@Einstein Babar Ha ha buddy I don't want this profession for my mother and sister, and don't want for others too. You have not understood this issue at all that is why you have made this reference to my mother and sister. Which is totally uncalled for but I understand you guy's mentality well enough now, so I will pass. Legalization of this trade is not invitation to enter this profession. Kindly read the headline. It is sex workers themselves demanding to legalize it. You know why? I can give a very long but point by point explanation but most of my comments are not being allowed here. So it is waste of my energy and time. Kindly do some research on net. Legalization will stop oppression and solve lot many problems they are facing and that is why they themselves are asking for it.

@ghanshyam ...the world oldest profession needs to be legalized...Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country. let us legalized both... it is one of the same isn't it

@A Ali this is call enlightenment.

@Beowulf Agate Legalisation means converting it to in an industry, I am business operations manager for last 8 years, I know very well what legalisation is, if it is converted into industry than it will need more human resource which means more induction of people in this business. Since it is illegal that is why many people avoid, once it becomes legal customer volume will increase and hence more staff will be required. I guess it is simple to understand

@Armani.... if you believe your culture and think that culture's worth huge, huge risks. Without culture we're all totalitarian beasts. is that what you want to be ....

@Dr Carla wonder why they are not legalizing male prostitution... women you all need to looooooooook into this seriously...your reputation is at stake...

If you ask me I would say, allow prostitution in India but raise it to he standard of Geisha's of Japan.

@A Ali If you close the eye it will not dark outside. Trying to cover the mouth of newspaper and media is a very wrong trend. Understand the reality.

@K.Ali Your GENERAL KNOWLEDGE is poor.

@Khalid Toronto I appreciate your liberal views.

@Anwar Amjad - It exists in our country too, you cannot deny it. As long as there are two willing adults, it cannot stop...deal with worse evils first that exist.

Legalizing prostitution WILL bring down the misery of the women....I am for it! Regular mandatory medical check ups,a certain amount of regulation will help the risks involved!

Drugs,alcohol,prostitution have existed from time immemorial...and,it is likely to exist in future? Human vices seem to bring misery and certain release from mental tension at the same time? Rigid laws, driving the practices underground add to misery and not lessen it? India would do well to rethink old laws on prostitution??

@A Ali News reporting in Dawn are balanced and I do not think it is wrong in reporting this news. Nowhere Dawn is endorsing it to happen in Pakistan.

Surprising that people who have no idea about social complexity around prostitution are commenting on this. As Empty utensils make more noise, empty heads whose thinkings are limited only to words spoken in holy books have no concept of human choice vs human tragedy. Their approach is simply medieval. While poverty is definitely a reason, people have no clue what are the reasons for their poverty. Poverty is not simply eliminated by handing out money and education. Take an example of slums in Mumbai. MHADA program allowed the slum dwellers to purchase flat constructed for them at government subsidized rate and many times even free. Many of these people sell those flats and go back to slum. The money is squandered in buying liquor, gambling and everything else but self development. In few months they are back to the same poverty state where they started from. Governments cannot baby cit every citizen. It is individual;s own responsibility that given an opportunity how they improvise their standard of living. Education and money will help those who have a will to improve their life. For people who find easy way out no money can help them. Hence it is important to at least given them security net by recognizing their status.

@A Ali : Happy to know that there is no prostituition in pakisthan...probably only country in the world....My friends who worked in saudi say there is a flourishing prostituition business even in saudi inspite of very severe punishment

We are more advanced than india, it's legal in Hiramandi.

Largest number of prostitutes . Largest number of child laborers . Largest number of malnourished children. But hey , at least we sent a space probe to Mars. Hope India will become the first country on Mars to open a brothel.

@A Ali Taking money from US and what does US do with drones?? You already made it LEGAL.

@A Ali Oh Come on Idiot, Its not something Promotion. Its a news Thats All. Take News as a News Only Don't be a lunatic.

A man Spending his Vacation with his family in a Yacht & paid 300 Million Dollars, meanwhile a Lady is having sex to feed his Kids or whatsoever her needs are. Welcome to the Earth :)

Prostitution should be legalised and people involving minors in this trade should be punished harshly. Legalising prostitution will ensure better health facilities for sex workers, it will protect their rights and rights of children of sex workers and minors will be protected. Its simple. Whatever is legal is taxable and hence not as profitable as illegal business. Criminals don't do legal business (and thats why they are criminals). Legalising prostitution will bring it out of the web of criminals. Let the prostitutes also pay taxes and get a chance at life.

I beg to differ. Once it is legalized, it will be available to all adults like smoking or drinking. It will start thriving like a industry, attracting all sort of investors. It will grow at a never-before pace. Many more girls would be pushed into it. And with easier access to it, innumerable families will be broken. Better to crack down on all brothels, with effective rehabilitation programs. Yes I know it can never be wiped away 100% but you cannot legalize a social evil if you couldn't stop it.

I feel sorry for the kids...Please provide them good education and respect in society.

Thats all due to prevalent poverty while they aspire for MARS.

@JackDomm It's the land of extreme contrasts and contradictions. You need to live in India to love it and admire it.

legalize it. Should bring down the rapes

Making such things prostitution, drugs etc legal is working out for western countries , why because to counter them they heavily invest to educate their population, advertising, schools banners healthcare etc , on the other hand this part of our world can't afford and don't have budget at all . Is India up for sex education, free healthcare etc. The ans is NO , if you step out of 4 or 5 western countries the world is still conservative, let's say few eastern Europe or africa or soouth asia , we as a nation can't act like a heards of sheep and follow west.

Please wait. Sooner than later, it will become legal in India.

In Pakistan, gays, lesbians, prostitutes and other sexual activities would be treated as a deviant behaviours and as per law to be executed. Today I'm glad we separated from India, at least we did not have to see this day. I won't be surprised the Indian government to make it legal because as a country they don't have an agenda. Freedom is their priority and today prostitutes are asking to be part of this freedom. You have no argument but to allow them their freedom.

As long as Men and Money available, this cannot be stopped anywhere in the world. Rather than calling them prostitutes, can be called Sexnurses or masseuses, and teach them how to take care their health, take care customers health, and teach them related professions like Massage, Hairdresser, Makeup artists and Nurses. So that they can live with a dignity while earning some good money.

@Imran A., There is no law to execute prostitutes, gays or lesbiens in Pakistan. Nowadays transgenders are issued I.D.Card without mentioning their SEXas MEN or WOMEN. Imran when commenting anything, first make sure you have proper knowledge of that country. Just don't lie.