Daily Times

Sir: All over the world, the chances of children seeing their fifth birthday depend on a number of factors like where they are born, the economic status of their parents and their ethnic identity. In Pakistan, this inequality is worsening. Every year, out of every 1,000 children, 86 die before reaching their fifth year due to causes that are preventable. Particularly Punjab and Balochistan have extremely high levels of child mortality. There are a number of reasons for this sorry state of affairs. The answer lies in tackling a complex, intertwined set of causes, including the lack of access to health and sanitation services, deficient infrastructure and unequal economic opportunities for citizens. Thus, it is the obligation of the government and all the stakeholders to take necessary steps on an urgent basis to make sure that a child’s chances of survival shouldn’t be depend on their birthplace, the economic status of their parents or ethnic identity. Every child has an equal right to survive and this right must be ensured by using every possible means.

BILQUEES BANO

Islamabad