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SPARC Press
Release (June 11, 2008)
Millions of Children in Pakistan Have no Future
12-year-old Hanifa, is now an invalid for life.
She has lost both her legs which were burnt when
the brick kiln owner threw her in the fire after
a dispute with her family in Hyderabad. This is
how children and child laborers suffer to supplement
the income of their ever growing, poverty stricken
families, stated a SPARC press release issued
on June 11, 2008, from Islamabad.
On June 3, the same day, SPARC Hyderabad office,
received information from Tando Jam, Tando Hyder
and Hosri of Hyderabad District, that 54 people
including 32 children and 14 women all bonded
laborers were in a miserable state and needed
help desperately. SPARC's legal adviser filed
four petitions in session’s court Hyderabad
for immediate measures for removing these people
from the brick kiln. The judge took suo motu action
after a police raid took the 54 people in police
custody. The people shared that the brick kiln
owner not only took back breaking work from them,
but also harassed the women, and had burnt two
of their children. They could not raise their
voice because of being in debt bondage. Government’s
safety nets have failed to support and rehabilitate
these innocent people. This incident confirms
that children are being bonded in Pakistan for
labor in various forms.
To highlight the plight of child laborers in
Pakistan, SPARC organized a week long activities
from June 6-12 to culminate on World Day Against
Child labor June12. SPARC celebrates this Week
nation-wide through its offices in Islamabad,
Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Balakot and Hyderabad
and through 40 Child Rights Committees at the
district level.
The objective of this week is to bring to the
forefront the plight of child laborers, which
is estimated to be over 10 million. These children
are living a life of deprivation and violation
of all their fundamental rights such as education,
health care, recreation, proper nutrition, safe
and secure environment and a childhood free of
work and exploitation. A majority of these children
are working in worst forms of labor such as; deep
sea fishing, bangle making, carpet weaving, stone
crushing, tanning and rag picking etc.
SPARC on the occasion of the World Day Against
Child Labor demands of the government and the
civil society to give every child his/her right
to quality, uniform, education in order to combat
child labor. It is also feared that the present
economic crises and food crises will further heighten
the plight of poor and poverty stricken children
and the figures of child laborers may surge, compelling
more and more children to work to supplement the
already beleaguered income of the family.
Executive Director, SPARC, Mr Qindeel Shujaat
lamented that the “attitudes of our policy
makers and the society at large show total insensitivity
towards children and define ourselves as human
beings, who do not respect and protect children’s
rights. Child labor is extremely common and acceptable
that we do not even notice it any more. Abolition
of child labor is just a dream. We must remember
that we cannot lay the foundation of a just and
peaceful society unless children, who constitute
half of Pakistan’s population, are provided
equal opportunities so they can pursue a dream
of a happy healthy childhood, and live a life
of dignity and respect. The emerging issues of
child militancy which is on the rise in Pakistan,
is the result of neglect. Let’s not wait
for any miracle; otherwise, we as a nation may
sink very soon.”
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