JUNE 12 is observed every year as the day against child labour. According to UNICEF and ILO reports an an estimated 168 million children aged 5–17 worldwide, were involved in child labour in 2013. According to a survey in Pakistan, approximately 19 million are working as child labourers. In Pakistan, more than 22 million children are out of schools and most of them work or beg.

Children can be seen working in restaurants, industry, garage and other workplaces. In every street, one can see children begging.

The government and civil society must perform their role in social, economic and political sectors in order to stop or reduce the menace of child labour.

Riaz Ahmed Rustamani
Dadu

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2018