By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) jointly called on the Government of Punjab to adopt a comprehensive and sustainable Child Labour Eradication Strategy to uphold children’s rights and protect them from economic exploitation.
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This call to action was made during the Provincial Policy Dialogue on “Child Labour in Punjab: Challenges, Gaps, and the Path Forward”, jointly organized by Search for Justice, Children Advocacy Network – CAN Pakistan, Child Rights Movement (CRM) Punjab, the Centre for Public Policy & Governance at Forman Christian College University, and NCHR, in collaboration with Kindernothilfe e.V. (KNH).
Mr. Iftikhar Mubarik, Executive Director of Search for Justice, shared that according to the most recent population census, Punjab is home to 56.3 million children under the age of 18, constituting nearly 50% of Pakistan’s total child population. He cited findings from the Punjab Child Labour Survey (2019–2020), which indicate that 16.9% of children aged 5–17 and 13.4% of those aged 5–14 are engaged in child labour across the province. Alarmingly, 47.8% of working children aged 10–14 are involved in hazardous occupations, putting them at risk of serious physical and psychological harm. Mr. Mubarik called for a comprehensive legislative overhaul to harmonize the definition of a child across all provincial laws, enabling consistent and effective enforcement. He also urged the activation of the Provincial Child Labour Committee under Section 4 of the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act, along with the notification of its rules under Section 21. Additionally, he recommended that District Child Protection Committees be formally notified in line with the Government of Punjab’s commitment under the Punjab Child Protection Policy, with the Deputy Commissioner serving as Chair. This, he emphasized, would ensure that locally identified child protection issues are addressed effectively with the support and coordination of local administrative structures.
Dr. Saeed Shafqat, Director of the Centre for Public Policy & Governance at FC College, emphasized the urgent need for sustainable and long-term policy responses to effectively combat child labour in Punjab. He highlighted that such measures must be supported by targeted, child-focused social protection programs that address the root causes—particularly poverty and limited access to education. Dr. Shafqat also underscored the importance of public awareness and multisectoral collaboration, involving government, civil society, academia, and the private sector, to develop a holistic and impactful response. Additionally, he called for strategic coordination between academic institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that research, policy, and implementation efforts are aligned and evidence-driven.
Mr. Tauseef Dilshad Khatana, Additional Secretary, Labour & Human Resource Department, Government of Punjab, shared that the provincial government is preparing to introduce a comprehensive Labour Code in the Punjab Assembly. This legislation will consolidate and modernize existing labour laws to improve clarity and enforcement. He also stated that the department has proposed aligning the minimum age for employment with the compulsory schooling age of 16, to help ensure children remain in education.
Ms. Rashida Qureshi, Focal Person for Children Advocacy Network – CAN Pakistan, emphasized that child labour is fundamentally a child protection issue and must be addressed through a comprehensive and integrated approach. She called for a legally supported referral and case management system to identify at-risk children and ensure their rehabilitation. She further noted that child labour is influenced by intersecting social, economic, and cultural factors, and not solely by poverty.
Mr. Nadeem Ashraf, Member Punjab of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), reminded participants of Pakistan’s international obligations, including under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to safeguard children’s rights. He proposed that the Government of Punjab pilot a Child Labour Eradication Program in one division, involving a broad coalition of stakeholders—including CSOs, INGOs, UN agencies, bilateral donors, the private sector, and local administrations. Once validated, this model could be scaled up province-wide to strengthen child labour prevention and response systems.
Dr. Abdullah Khoso, Assistant Professor at Forman Christian College University, drew attention to the extreme vulnerability of child domestic workers, who often face severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse behind closed doors. He called for provincial laws to explicitly ban child domestic labour, recognizing its exploitative nature. Dr. Khoso also recommended amending the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860, to criminalize the abuse of child domestic workers under a new Section 374A. Furthermore, he urged that the upcoming Labour Code expand labour inspections to include the agriculture sector, ensuring all children are protected from exploitation—regardless of the nature of their work.
Ammad and Aliza, child representatives from the Child Protection Forums established by Search for Justice, shared powerful messages on behalf of children. They emphasized that parents, communities, and the government must work together to ensure every child has access to education, and that no compromise should be made on the best interests and fundamental rights of children. They further stressed that the government should meaningfully engage with children during the planning of programs and policies that affect them. Consulting children in advance, they noted, would ensure that their views, needs, and lived experiences are reflected—leading to more inclusive and effective interventions.
