ISLAMABAD: An estimated 8.6 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 are currently engaged in child labour in Pakistan, according to figures presented during a briefing held in Islamabad to mark World Day Against Child Labour. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) organised the media briefing on Thursday to highlight the magnitude of child labour in the country and to stress the need for coordinated national action to tackle the issue.
Key Statistics on Child Labour and Education
The session revealed that recent evidence also indicates approximately 25.1 million children aged 5 to 16 are out of school, while nearly 88 per cent of child labour cases are concentrated in rural areas. Children continue to be employed across various sectors, including agriculture, brick kilns, domestic work, waste-picking, and other segments of the informal economy.
ILO's Call for Comprehensive Action
Speaking at the briefing, ILO Country Director for Pakistan Geir T. Tonstol emphasised that child labour is not merely a child protection issue but a broader challenge encompassing rights, decent work, and development. "Child labour reflects poverty, informality, unequal opportunities, barriers to education, and gaps in social protection. Addressing it requires more than enforcement alone. It requires quality education, decent work opportunities for adults, adequate incomes, and stronger social protection for vulnerable families," Tonstol stated.
The ILO noted that child labour and exclusion from schooling are deeply interconnected. Children who are out of school are more likely to enter the workforce prematurely, while those engaged in labour face reduced chances of completing their education. The organisation called for a comprehensive response involving government institutions, employers' and workers' organisations, civil society, development partners, and the media.
