PESHAWAR: A new fast spreading clacker balls game, posing serious threat to children’s lives, has alerted rights activists and parents as almost every nook and cranny is found with the cracking sounds of this toy. Most rights’ activists, medical experts and academicians have termed clacker balls game a ticking bomb for the society and community at large.

Already children are under the specter of misuse of social media and variety of drugs, and yet another evil of clacker balls game came up to grip them, creating a new challenge for parents and rights activists. Children of all age-group and even adult are involved in the harmful game leaving neighborhoods dipped in deep clueless nuisance.

This silly balls game would force children and adult to indulge in idle activity, leading to bullying, infighting and a noisy neighborhood; it should be banished and restricted, said Rafia Zari, headmistress of a local girls’ high school in Peshawar.

According to experts, the clacker balls, made of glass, were invented in US in early 60s and soon it had spread to other countries. US government banned this game owing to rising incidents of injuries to children.

In the 70s the US government had clamped a complete ban on production and supply of this toy game.

Arshad Nadeem, a sociology student, told this scribe that a local company in Karachi had rolled out this toy game in the market and soon it spread through every city and street of the country.

“Apparently, clacker balls seems just fun toy for children but its ear-piercing noise is not just a public nuisance, it may pose serious threats to our children’s lives and well-being,” Imran Takkar, a child’s rights expert and activist told Dawn.

Dr IKram Sparlai, a young medical professional said, “Clacker balls should immediately be banned before it gets too late, adding that stakeholders including parents and teachers should not wait for the worst to happen.”

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2024