IN the brick kilns lying on the outskirts of Peshawar, a silent humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. Afghan women, children and elderly men work under harsh, exploitative conditions, trapped in debt bondage that has become a modern form of slavery. Families owe kiln owners huge debts that compel entire households to work endless hours merely to service the interest, with little hope of ever clearing the principal or returning to Afghanistan.

During our recent fieldwork, the team witnessed the heart-breaking reality first-hand: young children moulding bricks under the scorching sun, women carrying heavy loads, and frail elders toiling along-side them, all denied basic dignity and a path to freedom.

This is surely not an isolated tragedy; it is a systemic issue affecting numerous Afghan refugee families who fled conflict only to encounter economic captivity in Pakistan.

There are people who have meticulously compiled a list of affected families and they share it with community elders, including businessmen, philanthropists and people of conscience, seeking contri- butions towards clearing these debts so that at least some families may break free from this cycle of exploitation, and return home with honour.

Transparent and coordinated assistance can ensure aid reaches the most deserving without misuse. The plight of these bonded labourers demands the urgent attention of civil society activists, policymakers and charitable organisations. Let us not move on turning a blind eye to the suffering.

Sher Alam Shinwari
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026