March 16, 2026
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
In a startling announcement by an organization monitoring child protection issues in the country, Pakistan recorded at least 3,630 cases of child abuse in 2025, marking an 8 percent increase compared to 2024. The numbers were released in Sahil’s latest Cruel Numbers 2025 report.
The figures translate to more than nine children abused every day, highlighting the scale of violence faced by minors across the country.
The report analyzed cases documented through 81 national and regional newspapers in Urdu, English, and local languages, along with reports received directly by the organization. However the figures show only those cases reported by the media and does not count others that go unreported, therefore the number may be much higher.
Gender divide
Of the 3,630 cases recorded, 1,924 victims were girls (53 percent) while 1,625 were boys (45 percent). Another 116 cases involved infants, indicating that even newborns are not immune from abuse.
The statistics challenge the common perception that girls are the only victims of abuse, showing that boys constitute nearly half of the reported victims.
Children aged 11–15 most vulnerable
The report indicates that children between the ages of 11 and 15 were the most vulnerable group, with boys in this age bracket reporting higher victimization than girls.
Children in other age groups were also affected, including infants and toddlers, demonstrating that abuse spans all age ranges.
Students emerged as the largest identifiable group of victims. The report recorded 417 cases involving students, followed by 72 cases involving child labourers and 46 cases involving special needs children.
Sexual abuse accounts for majority of cases
Out of the total reported cases, 2,003 were incidents of child sexual abuse, accounting for 55 percent of all child abuse cases in 2025.
Within these sexual abuse cases, 596 involved sodomy and 522 involved rape.
Together these two categories represent the largest share of sexual abuse crimes against children.
The report also documented 238 cases of gang sexual assault, including gang rape and gang sodomy.
Acquaintances are the most common abusers
In the majority of cases, perpetrators were people known to the victims. The data shows that 1,667 abusers were acquaintances, 754 were strangers, 48 were religious teachers, 37 were shopkeepers and 35 were neighbours.
The findings also reveal that family members such as fathers, brothers and other relatives were involved in several cases, underscoring the domestic nature of many crimes.
Punjab records the highest number of cases
Geographically, Punjab reported the largest share of child sexual abuse cases, accounting for 77 percent of the 2,003 sexual abuse cases recorded in 2025.
Among districts, Faisalabad recorded the highest number of child abuse cases (553), followed by Kasur – 303, Gujranwala – 221, Sialkot – 207, Rahim Yar Khan – 192, Lahore – 162, Multan – 153, Toba Tek Singh – 136, Vehari – 111 and Rawalpindi – 109.
Together, these 10 districts accounted for 63 percent of all reported child abuse cases.
Urban areas report slightly more cases
The report also shows a slight urban concentration in cases. Around 1,950 cases (54 percent) occurred in urban areas whereas 1,680 cases (46 percent) were reported from rural areas.
Over 1,100 cases of child abduction
Child abduction remained a major concern, with 1,107 cases recorded in 2025. Of these 71 percent of victims were girls and 28 percent were boys.
Most abductions were linked to strangers (504 cases), followed by acquaintances (332 cases).
Rise in missing children cases
The report documented 365 cases of missing children in 2025, up from 245 cases in 2024, representing a significant increase.
Boys accounted for the majority of missing children cases, often linked to running away from home due to family conflict, peer pressure or school stress, which can increase vulnerability to exploitation.
Infants most vulnerable
A total of 116 cases involved infants, many of which were extremely disturbing.
Among these 71 infants were found dead, 27 were found alive; 15 were abducted and two 2 cases involved the sale of infants.
Garbage dumps and hospitals were among the most common places where abandoned infants were found.
Police registration relatively high
Encouragingly, 1,812 of the 2,003 sexual abuse cases were registered with the police, suggesting increased reporting and legal action in such crimes.
The report recommends nationwide awareness campaigns, child protection education in schools, specialized training for teachers and police, and the establishment of child-friendly courts to address the growing crisis.
Child rights activists say the statistics reflect both an increase in reporting and a persistent failure to prevent abuse, calling for stronger institutional safeguards and community vigilance.