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Zardari, Shehbaz Call for Urgent Action to End Child Labour in Pakistan
Over 12.5M children in trapped in labour. On WorldDayAgainstChildLabour, President Zardari & PM Shehbaz urge parents, employers & society to act now to protect children’s rights.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-12
Zardari, Shehbaz Call for Urgent Action to End Child Labour in Pakistan

Islamabad, June 12: As Pakistan marked the World Day Against Child Labour 2025, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued powerful appeals for coordinated efforts by parents, employers, and society at large to eliminate child labour from the country.

According to the Child Rights Movement (CRM) National Secretariat, over 12.5 million children in Pakistan are currently engaged in child labour. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 1 in 4 Pakistani households employs a child for domestic work—often in hazardous and exploitative conditions.

In his official statement, President Zardari emphasized the moral and constitutional responsibility to safeguard children from exploitation.

“Let us create a future where every child can learn, play, and grow in a safe and dignified environment,” he said.

He called on:

  • Employers to strictly enforce child labour laws.
  • Parents and guardians to prioritize education over short-term financial needs.
  • Schools and teachers to help prevent dropouts and keep vulnerable children in classrooms.

Zardari also cited Pakistan’s legislative progress, including:

  • National Commission on the Rights of the Child Act (2017)
  • ICT Child Protection Act (2018)
  • Juvenile Justice System Act (2018)
  • Employment of Children’s Act (1991)
  • Domestic Workers Act (2002)

He also urged the media to amplify awareness and philanthropists to support poor families to prevent children from being forced into work. Drawing attention to the plight of children in conflict zones like Gaza, he warned that such vulnerable children are at high risk of labour exploitation.

“Together, we can dismantle the systems that exploit children and build a future where every child is free to dream and learn,” he said.

PM Shehbaz's Message:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed the urgency in tackling child labour, calling it a violation of children’s fundamental rights.

“Children subjected to labour are often victims of sexual and psychological abuse and are robbed of their childhood and education,” he said.

He emphasized the role of:

  • Governments (federal and provincial)
  • Private sector & educational institutions
  • Media & civil society
    in combating the issue.

Referring to this year’s theme — “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts!” — the Prime Minister noted that while gains have been made, Pakistan must accelerate its efforts to meet its international commitments.

Shehbaz Sharif mentioned Pakistan’s constitutional Article 11, which prohibits all forms of child labour, and highlighted Danish Schools as a model for free, quality education for underprivileged children.

Global Context & ILO Report

The ILO and UNICEF are set to release the 2025 Global Estimates and Trends Report on Child Labour, which will provide a data-driven assessment of the world’s progress. While official figures from the new report are awaited, Pakistan’s last Child Labour Survey (1996) revealed that:

  • 66% of working children were in agriculture,
  • 11% in manufacturing,
  • 9% in hotels/restaurants,
  • 8% in domestic/personal services,
  • 4% in transport,
  • 2% in construction.
Tagged:

ChildRights

EndChildLabour

WorldDayAgainstChildLabour

ILO2025
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