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³There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty
more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that
their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace.´
Kofi Annan

Misery on face, want in eyes, empty stomach, deprived, barefooted, wearing torn and dirty
clothes with grease on hands, face and everywhere. This is the condition of Irfan, 10 working in
a workshop in the Capital Islamabad¶s sector I-9. Ominously, these are not only the attributes
ofIrfan alone but 21 million children from 5-14 years of age work in Pakistan according to an
unofficial the Survey of all Pakistan Labor Force conducted in 1007-2008. These children work
under hazardous conditions or beg for hours and hours and get literally nothing in return except
for a ³roti´ or meager amount of money. The children, known as µchild labor¶ or µstreet-children¶
are fully exposed and vulnerable to the evils of society. It is a bitter reality that child labor has
become an accepted norm in Pakistani society which cries for anenduring integrated approach
from the whole society.

Child labor is a very complex problem which needs a full and well-integrated approach on the
part of government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the society
on the whole. People¶s attitudes and behaviors are needed to be changed. The underlying
reasons behind working children are needed to be addressed including poverty, adult
unemployment, illiteracy, ineffective child labor laws, lack of free education and meals at
school, no funds form the government for such children, lack of awareness in society etc. A
personal survey conducted by the writer in sector I-9 by interviewing 50 children working or
begging on streets and workshops shows that 75% children work due to poverty and they want to
study but can¶t afford to go to school. Repentantly, the government spends only 3% of Gross
Domestic Product on education as opposed to 10 times defensespending. 100% children of them
are unaware of any educational relief or financial support from the government or any other non-
governmental organization.

To eradicate and abolish the child labor problem it is imperative for the government make well-
informed policies which aim to address the underlying problems. There are child labor laws in
Pakistan like³Employment of Children Act 1997´, and ³Punjab Compulsory Education Act
1994´ etc. but evidence suggests their ineffectiveness. More recently, the Labor Policy of 2010
also contains provisions for social and economic wellbeing of labor including children. However,
scores of children work under hazardous conditions at brick kilns, workshops,instruments,
games, and carpet industries, and households. Pakistan is an agricultural society and 80% of
population lives in rural areas where 73.6% population according to International Labor
Organization lives under US $2 per day. So, children under 15 years work in fields with their
parents who even are not paid. Pakistan is a feudal society sothere is also the problem of bonded
labor despite of ³the Bonded Labor System Abolition Act 1992´. According to ILO 100,000
children and women are trafficked internally and 200,000 are trafficked across borders ending up
in labor and sexual exploitation. There are other laws pertaining to child labor in Pakistan
including the.

Despite child labor laws, the number of workingchildren surgein our society which shows the
³ineffectiveness of child labor laws in Pakistan´. One of the most imperative reasons for the
ineffectiveness of these policies are that child labor activitycannot be controlled or eliminated by
just passing a law. There are several informal employers of child labors who are not even aware
of these laws like households, workshops, farmers, and carpet making industries etc. hence, these
laws are difficult to implement which makes it very challenging to regulate and control. In this
regard the society can play an informal but very positive role by showing dissent for child labor
and not employing under age children in households, workshops, and other areas. NGOs can also
be very effective in this regards as these work on the grass root levels and media¶s role is
inevitable for spreading awareness among masses. Furthermore, international organizations such
as ILO can provide advice and assistance to government officials, employers, and NGOs to curb
the problem.

Thus, the child labor problem needs an integrated approach and long-term policies are
prerequisite. Punitive measures are not effective like International boycott against products
involving child labor. It only gives rise to poverty and unemployment which further exacerbate
the problem. Hence root cause of poverty and illiteracy are needed to be addressed. Children
should be provided with free and skill-based vocational training and education with provisions of
rehabilitation centers.