Sir: Child abuse is on the rise in Pakistan. The reason for this increase is easy access of children to the abusers. Parents of the low-income class are not conscious about the whereabouts of their children; thus they wander freely. Another contributing factor to the prevalence of this abuse is lack of education and training on the part of parents as well as schools to children. The negative effects of child abuse are guilt, nightmares, insomnia, etc. The bad memory of such an experience never fades completely. Unfortunately, the cases of child abuse have frequently been reported in madrassas. So is the case with the rural areas. Illiteracy is the main reason behind child abuse. We need to come out of the taboo of not discussing sex education with children. Unless we become open about this subject, sexual abuses in both children and adults will linger, abusing society in turn. MEHAD ALI NAQVI Karachi