Daily Times

Sir: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan estimated that in the 1990s, 11 million children were working in the streets, half of whom were under age ten. According to ILO, Child Labour is defined as work that has the potential to deprive children of their childhood, their dignity and is also harmful for their physical, moral and mental development and it interferes with their education (either by not allowing them to attend school, leaving school prematurely ie, without compulsory education or forcing them to combine school attendance with heavy work).

A large portion of these children are employed through an informal economy in the street, in private structures or in their homes, which also deprives them from safety and recognition. Denying children their fundamental right to be educated between the ages of five to 16 exposes them to health hazards, hampers their development and puts them at risk to other forms of violence, which may also be physical, psychological and sexual. It goes on to say that children in the labour environment are highly vulnerable to exploitation including commercial and sexual as well as trafficking.

The new government must noticed this problem rising in our society very fast and should take some steps and help these children and do something for their moral values.

AREEBA MUNEER

Karachi