Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated his administration’s dedication to eliminating child labour across Pakistan, aiming for a secure and prosperous future for all children. In a statement marking the World Day Against Child Labour, Sharif stressed the collaborative efforts required from federal and provincial governments, private sectors, educational institutions, media, and civil society to tackle this issue.

Sharif highlighted that the World Day Against Child Labour serves as an opportunity to stand aligned with the global community to combat child labour. He emphasized the necessity of creating an environment where every child can grow safely and prosperously.

The prime minister pointed out that children forced into labour often face abuse and are denied a basic education, stripping them of their childhood. This year’s theme, “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts!” underscores the progress made and the work still required. In line with this, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF will release the 2025 Global Estimates and Trends Report on Child Labour to evaluate current efforts.

Sharif noted that children in developing countries bear the brunt of child labour, with regions in prolonged conflict seeing a rise in affected children. He called on the international community to prioritize these vulnerable areas.

Pakistan is committed to adhering to ILO Convention No. 138 on minimum employment age and ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour. The Constitution of Pakistan explicitly bans forced and child labour, and laws like The Employment of Children Act 1991 and The Domestic Workers Act 2002 have been enacted. However, Sharif acknowledged the need to strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

The government is urging provinces, stakeholders, and civil society to support its initiatives to ensure every child receives an education. The Danish School System is one such effort to provide quality education for underprivileged children, complemented by nutrition programs in public schools to address malnutrition.