ISLAMABAD – A national report released Thursday by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in partnership with UNICEF reveals that Pakistan has 8.6 million child laborers, of whom more than 6.6 million are involved in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety and future.
Titled “Pakistan: Child Labour Surveys, Evidence for Action,” the study is the first nationally representative child‑labour dataset in almost thirty years. It maps the scale, distribution, sectors, risks and drivers of child labor across the country.
At the launch, NCHR chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha highlighted that the last comprehensive survey was conducted in 1996, leaving policymakers to rely on outdated or fragmented data for over two decades. While prevalence varies by province, hazardous child labor remains a nationwide concern.
The report shows Punjab bears the greatest burden, with more than six million child laborers, followed by Sindh (1.6 million), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (745 thousand), Balochistan (201 thousand) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (15 thousand).
Poverty emerged as the strongest driver, with the highest rates among the poorest households and families with low parental education. Boys are substantially more likely than girls to work, including in hazardous conditions. A large share of child labor occurs on family farms, in family workshops and within family homes, making it largely invisible to conventional labour inspections.
The findings underscore severe impacts on children’s well‑being. Working children are more likely to be out of school, to work longer hours and to suffer injuries, illness, fatigue and poor mental health. Across provinces, 32‑58 percent of working children reported work‑related injuries or illness, and up to one‑third of older child workers reported symptoms of depression.
Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarrar warned that no single ministry or intervention can solve the problem, noting that child labor is far more widespread than many assume.
Supreme Court Justice Ayesha Malik reminded that Pakistan’s Constitution already prohibits the employment of children under 14 in hazardous occupations (Article 11) and guarantees free, compulsory education (Article 25A). She called for incorporating children’s voices into policy decisions, emphasizing that child labor intersects with education, family circumstances, health, nutrition and social attitudes.
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik added that child labor is not inevitable; it is driven by poverty, exclusion and under‑investment. “Every child who stays in school instead of going to work is a measure of our success,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 19, 2026
