Today, on World Day Against Child Labour, Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its resolve to protect children from exploitation and to ensure that every child can grow up in safety and attend school.
The protection of children is rooted in the Constitution of Pakistan. Article 11 prohibits slavery, forced labour and the employment of children in hazardous work, while Article 25-A guarantees free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of five and sixteen years. These provisions define a clear responsibility for the State to safeguard childhood and support education.
Child labour has direct consequences for a child’s life and future. A child engaged in work is often forced to leave school or fall behind in learning. This limits opportunity, weakens skills development and places additional pressure on families already facing hardship. Ensuring that children remain in education is therefore not only a matter of protection, but also of long-term social and economic well-being.
Pakistan continues to take steps at federal and provincial levels to reduce child labour and strengthen child protection efforts. The focus remains on prevention, enforcement of existing laws and support for children who need to return to education and a stable environment.
On this day, I call upon parents, employers, teachers, religious leaders, civil society and all citizens to play their part in protecting children from exploitation and keeping them in school.
A society is judged by how it treats its children. Every child in Pakistan must have the opportunity to learn, to grow and to build a secure future.
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