June 12 the World Day Against Child Labour is observed all over the world to raise awareness for the prevention of child labour, encourage stakeholders to speak against this social evil and re-affirms our resolve to end child labour in all its forms and manifestations. Child labor is a growing curse in the world, particularly the developing countries and Pakistan are the victim of this growing global phenomenon. The children illegally working in different jobs, in factories, enterprises, agriculture and homes are deprived of their childhood which they deserve and are subjected to worse working conditions. The child labour deprives children from receiving basic education and access to health facilities. It exposes them to harmful and hazardous environments and clips their basic rights to life and liberty. The child labor is harmful to physical and mental development of the children, compromises their dignity, prevents them from going to schooling, subjects them to excessively long and heavy work and in worst case scenario subjects them to slavery, separation from their families. Pakistan is committed to its international obligations towards prevention of Child labor in all its forms and manifestations. Every child has a right to get education and better health. We need to ensure that our children are also provided a safe and secure environment around them. Article 11 (3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees that “no child below the age of fourteen years shall be engaged in any factory or mine or any other hazardous employment. Furthermore, Federal and provincial laws forbid child labor, however, implementation of these law needs to strengthened at all level. The entire nation needs to stand together to fight this evil. We can do so by strengthening capacity of the regulators to address the issue of child and bonded labour. The launch of effective and determined awareness campaign to sensitize the society on harmful effects of child labor is one important element to fight he menace of Child labor. Supporting the federal and provincial authorities to enhance their capacities on data collection and analysis, promoting inter-agency cooperation and sharing knowledge and effective advocacy should also be pursued to counter this menace.
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