Child labour in Pakistan
By Muhammad Ammar Rana
A sigh of exhaustion could easily be seen on the face of every human, with a kind soul, passing by that 13-years old child. Yes, a child with pressure on his mind, as well as on his immature shoulders, who was trying hard to lift the heavy, unbearable to carry, weight.
Children laboring hard, putting their health and lives at risk, is a common sight in Pakistan. According to the constitution and labour laws, employment of children under the age of 14 is prohibited. Yet, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan estimated in the 1990s that 11 million children were working in the country, half of them under ten years of age. Many years have passed till yet but the situation is still same in most of the rural and urban areas of Pakistan.
Are they living their life or just suffering from the very young age to fulfill their and their family’s basic needs?
We always talk about human rights. Where are these children’s rights to basic education, food, clothing and shelter? Should not they only be worried about education, sports and recreation at this age?
First of May is enthusiastically celebrated in our beloved country by granting a leave to all the corporate world. But, often, the real laborers can be seen toiling even on the 1st of May, oblivious to the fact that they are part of the labor force, and deserve a day off.
God bestowed human beings with the blessing of parents so that they could be protected from the harshness of the world. But, what about the children who have to come out of their houses to be able to earn and protect, feed, their families at a very tender age?
Isn’t it our duty to stand with those less privileged in our society so we could abolish the curse of child labour from our society?
Yes, indeed. Why not!
I will end my article by requesting you to pledge that you will contribute towards ending of child labor form our country. The least we can do is that we can raise our voice, and stand with the down trodden, and vulnerable, who often are voiceless, because the society around is oppressive and justifies inequality.
