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ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP):On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized that the purpose of marking this day is to ensure equal rights for children across the world.
She expressed deep concern over the overall situation of children in Pakistan, highlighting serious obstacles in the provision of their basic rights.
Sherry Rehman said poverty, limited access to girls’ education, and the lack of basic healthcare facilities remain among the major challenges facing children in the country. Citing United Nations data, she pointed out that 26 million children in Pakistan are out of school, one of the highest numbers in the world. She added that the rate of girls’ education in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains extremely low.
The Senator noted that Pakistan’s neonatal mortality rate is significantly higher than in many other countries. She warned that the shortage of clean drinking water, inadequate health services, and widespread malnutrition are severely affecting children’s health. “Every year, thousands of Pakistani children lose their lives due to malnutrition,” she said.
Rehman also voiced alarm over the continued issue of child labor, stressing that hundreds of thousands of children who should be in school are forced to work under harsh conditions in factories, domestic labor, and agriculture. These children, she said, are deprived of opportunities for education and a better future.
She further highlighted the rise in cases of physical violence, sexual harassment, and abuse against children. According to her, social problems and the absence of parents in many households also have a severe impact on children’s lives. The lack of enforcement of the Child Protection and Welfare Act and the Child Labour Prohibition Act continues to worsen the situation, she added.
Sherry Rehman said over 40% of children in Pakistan suffer from stunting due to malnutrition, with early-age pregnancies being a major contributing factor. “Many girls become mothers far too young due to early marriages,” she emphasized. She recalled that Sindh passed a law in 2013 to curb child marriage, and the federal government also adopted similar legislation in 2025 after a long struggle. She urged Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to immediately pass the same law.
The Senator stressed that awareness campaigns for children’s education and better living conditions have become a crucial need of the hour. She concluded her message by stating that serious and practical measures are essential to ensure a safe and brighter future for children on Universal Children’s Day.