‘Pakistan third in human slavery ranking’

E-Paper | July 31, 2026

MULTAN: Pakistan ranks third in a list of 167 countries where human slavery is most severe.

This was stated by Justice and Peace Commission Executive Secretary Hyacinth Peter here on Saturday during a consultation session on ‘Existing Laws to Stop Bonded Labour: Gaps and Recommendations’. He said Pakistan stood third position in the Global Slavery Index (GSI).

Read: Nearly 36m people living as slaves across the globe, survey report

“Any kind of slavery is illegal and inhuman. High ratio of slavery in the country is a huge matter of concern and failure of state institutions to protect the rights of labourers. Proper implementation of minimum wages, provision of social security and access to other facilities could stop bonded labour,” he said.

Peter said according to the GSI over two million people were enslaved in Pakistan. Punjab and Sindh especially were “hotspots of bonded labour” in sectors like brick making.

“The sale and purchase of brick kiln labour has become a profitable job. Pakistan got freedom in 1947 but brick kiln labourers could not get freedom from bonded labour till today,” he added.

Also read| India, Pakistan have highest population of slaves in the world: report

He further said bonded labour was common in the brick kiln sector and majority of kilns were in Punjab. Labour laws especially Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992 were not being implemented in the kiln industry and kiln owners were more powerful as compared to the state.

District Officer (Labour) Nusrat Kamal, Nadeem Parwaz, former MPA Amir Naveed Jewa, Altaf Mehmood Qurashi, former MPA Babu Nafees Ansari, Farhan Bhatti, Naeem Haroon and Sohail Javaid were among the participants who urged the government to enforce the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992 as well as take all necessary steps to end the practice.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2015

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Amit

Mar 01, 2015 10:51am

Both Pak and India are countries where humans rot and religions thrive. Shameful !

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Salman

Mar 01, 2015 10:59am

Before worrying too much, it should be pointed out that India also has a high reputation for slavery.

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khanm

Mar 01, 2015 12:16pm

and yet we call our self an Islamic republic of Pakistan... Islam abolished slavery 1400 years a go...Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

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Feroz

Mar 01, 2015 12:16pm

@Salman Thank You for your view but please kindly give the source and links.

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Woz Ahmed

Mar 01, 2015 12:22pm

@Salman the report says India has 14.3 million slaves, Pakistan has 2 million, population of India is 6.5 times greater than Pakistan. So Pakistan has less slaves per ahead. Regardless , as long as there is one slave in our nation, we should be appalled and fight this sickness

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Tayyab

Mar 01, 2015 12:28pm

kindly report correctly, Pakistan is not on third its on 6th ranking. Follow the link to update your information and also apologies if your information/ news report was wrong. http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/country/pakistan/

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Nas

Mar 01, 2015 12:29pm

Oh WOW ..SO let me get it straight, this analysis is also done by some Western ( as Usual) ...Why am I not surprised....So they can Kill ..Children / Women etc etc....But still slavery is bad & specially if Pakistan Does it ....Amazing ....

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Neo.

Mar 01, 2015 12:34pm

According to the index, India has the highest total number of enslaved people in the world, between 13.2 million to 14.6 million, followed by China with 2.9 million enslaved people, and Pakistan with 2.1 million enslaved people.

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Riaz

Mar 01, 2015 12:36pm

@Salman And that's our concern because? We should worry about only our own country, not our neighbor. Do we really need to compare with India in everything, even something as shameful as this?

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Abe

Mar 01, 2015 12:52pm

@khanm Islam did not abolish slavery. In fact, no religion abolished slavery. Abraham Lincoln was the first to abolish slavery. Slavery was practised during prophets time and later in muslim history. Slavery was practised by Romans, Greeks, Muslims, Christians and all civilizations.

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Arsha

Mar 01, 2015 12:54pm

@Salman and so its ok for Pakistan to have the same? Nothing to worry about?

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umesh g

Mar 01, 2015 12:59pm

@Amit What a solace?Even if the statistics- you depend upon- is true.I live in south India and have worked in the rural areas and I do not see any slavery. I hope we continuosly raise the bar in human development issues rather.

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Riaz

Mar 01, 2015 01:05pm

Ashamed to learn that. What is the police doing?

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Jai

Mar 01, 2015 01:12pm

@Salman ....and why should India's situation be of any concern to you. You should worry (a lot) for your own country, and stop comparisons. Slavery is BAD everywhere, period.

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m singh

Mar 01, 2015 01:13pm

India is on the top...

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lkhan

Mar 01, 2015 01:14pm

the figure of 2.1 million may be higher when one takes into account the construction sector where the labour class lives under extreme conditions. Take for example those who are building the metro system of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. In this newspaper some time back an article showed the precarious unhealthy living conditions of the workers in Islamabad, next to big avenues and high rises, living in shanty towns without running water and worse.

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ghanshyam

Mar 01, 2015 02:25pm

@Neo. : tell me where are slaves available in india ? We have women coming all the way from Bangladesh to wash our dishes !

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bilal memon

Mar 01, 2015 03:02pm

its slavery in Pakistan but when its china or any other country we like to call it cheap labour oh God!!! are we blind or have we lost our minds????

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Shamoon Saleem

Mar 01, 2015 03:19pm

NOT 3RD BUT 6TH One may seek solace in the purported arbitrariness of this report or in the fact that India is one stair higher than Pakistan with a difference of 0.01% but every one slave is one too much, wherever. A correction in this regard is at it’s place though. Pakistan according to this survey is not 3rd on the list but 6th with 1.13 % of population, while India is 5th with a percentage of 1.14% of population. No 1 is Mauritania with 4% of the population. http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/? gclid=CjwKEAiAjsunBRCy3LSlz_PJqCgSJACJY7yKQWJ7d3i2wNWvS85ZSLYSarlsFYn3fb0sLKPGF7-7iBoCZFnw_wcB

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Shamain

Mar 01, 2015 03:29pm

@Nas i dont believe we are third here . This exists everywhere and as far as i can think usa probably has more in its rural areas than us and many african nations. Not believeable this report. But yes problem exists.

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Nadeem

Mar 01, 2015 03:57pm

@Salman ....Why we have to mention India in every topic every little problem of our country we talk about...change your ways of thinking my friend it is our problem. We have to correct it.

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KHALID SOHAIL SHAIKH

Mar 01, 2015 04:19pm

Labor slavery and human slavery or some countries forced to female for corrupt business. All crimes are filthy and developed countries are also responsible, since they collect major part of world's cream(wealth,money) for their kids. Justice means food for living, doctor for treatment and book for each kid. What else is justice or human right? All western love their kids and care them.

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Ali Mohsin

Mar 01, 2015 04:28pm

ITS ALL SHAM: My family worked hard and we paid money for these bonded labour in kiln nearby Lahore. To our surprise these families again took loan from the owner and bonded again with the kiln.................................... We learnt few things from this: Its difficult to get kiln workers. So majority of the kiln owners are ready to pay loan amounts to their labour on agreed payback woring time of 3-5 years. In return they get a place to live and food. Because of high utility and rental prices people prefer to become a bonded labour.

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UTPAL

Mar 01, 2015 04:34pm

@Salman How India comes in this picture! If India is even worst in this regard ( for argument sake at least) then will this situation will be substantiated?

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Mar 01, 2015 04:36pm

Trafficking in Human is 3rd largest crime in world followed by sales of illegal Drugs and Arms. It is not only India or PAK, even developed countries like US has same this problem. Bangladesh, Myanmar and many more, Child labor, Prostitution, Slavery/forced labor is somehow part of trafficking.

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dawn reader

Mar 01, 2015 04:38pm

Islamic republic of pakistan should be changed to just republic of pakistan.

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aam aadmiA

Mar 01, 2015 05:25pm

why not first,,,, always third ,,,,

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aam aadmiA

Mar 01, 2015 05:26pm

always compare pak with india, what ever is the subject,,,,

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Romaan Khan

Mar 01, 2015 05:28pm

@dawn reader Sure it will not work, until and unless you do not have proper law enforcement system.. No any reform just only need law enforcement...

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Akram

Mar 01, 2015 05:40pm

this is disgraceful, Shahbaz Sharif needs to answer why so many people are able to do this. The only way to deal with this is to make brick kiln operators liable for slavery, and prosecute them. There needs to be regulation of this sector.

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public

Mar 01, 2015 05:49pm

Modern Slavery is bred in south Asia by the rulers over the decades. Look around and you will get my drift. When a PM in Bharat or Pakistan is holding a meeting or just speaking to press, watch those standing behind or around them and you will understand.It is shameful.

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Harmony

Mar 01, 2015 05:50pm

@Nadeem - Its a common problem, so don't be touchy and pretend not to be Indian.

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rana1

Mar 01, 2015 06:34pm

The East has bonded slavery and West has white collar slavery!

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JUSTICE

Mar 01, 2015 06:38pm

Specially Pakistan being a islamic country, it's shameful that government's leaders have done nothing to stop slavery in Pakistan.

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Sayed

Mar 01, 2015 06:41pm

Don’t worry, we are determined to get the first position, it’s just the matter of time.

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AMV houston

Mar 01, 2015 06:55pm

@Salman what a comparison you should be ashamed

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Hatim

Mar 01, 2015 07:03pm

The fruits of democracy.

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Zak

Mar 01, 2015 07:22pm

No one can beat India- always number 1.

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Amer RAO - Toronto

Mar 01, 2015 07:25pm

Its really sad, we must focus on new economic reforms, without economic stability we can not over come on such social evils.

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Mar 01, 2015 07:59pm

@Salman - that is a wonderful reason to not worry about slavery in Pakistan! You are a real human being and I applaud your sentiments!

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Shamain

Mar 01, 2015 09:32pm

@Ali Mohsin, thnx for sharing. Basically if gov wont alleviate poverty this cycle might go on. What do you think?ppl will take loans and do what you described. Rest media creates a lot of hype about Pakistan. Specially western media. Now just look at this 3rd rank. From the sound of it, it sounds incorrect. But i do accept we have issues and must and should be solved.

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S.M.Shah

Mar 01, 2015 09:48pm

There is difference in slavery and unemployment. Mostly working willingly and as slaves. In agriculture sectors ratio of such people is higher then working in bricks silkn. Yes slavery should be discourage even should be allowed at any level.

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Zubair

Mar 02, 2015 12:28am

It is alarming.Justice in society, Education Respect of Humanity ,Financial Stability are the important factors which can save people from Slavery.Pakistan has kept it's record to be on safe side by maintaining it's face as an Islamic Welfare State.Hope that the people and Government will take care of their fellow citizens.

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brmurr

Mar 02, 2015 01:39am

@Salman You really need to stop using other countries as your measuring stick, because if every country did what you're doing, we would all be 3rd world countries like Pakistan. For once, think big. Why not set a new standard? Be the measuring stick for others!

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Cyrus Ho

Mar 02, 2015 03:44am

@Salman I guess Pakistan isn't worried. Slavery is permitted.

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Cyrus Ho

Mar 02, 2015 03:45am

@khanm Thank You!

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Cyrus Ho

Mar 02, 2015 03:55am

@Riaz The fight is not about religion or pride. The fight is about overpopulation, exploitation and weak economies in poor nations. Overpopulation is not a problem so long as the poor don't want new shoes, new clothes, and air conditioning. For most in the countryside there is food. For those poor without even food there is slavery.

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Abingdon Patel

Mar 02, 2015 11:59am

Should aim for the first position on the list.

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mani

Mar 03, 2015 01:35am

@Salman this really doesn't make someone feel any better.

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Riaz

Mar 03, 2015 06:04am

@Cyrus Ho Nice comments Sir, tho you addressed the other "Riaz" in the comments.

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