June 12th, 2026
By Iqra Manzoor
Lahore
Around six million children between the ages of five and 17 are engaged in child labour in Punjab, according to the Punjab Child Labour Survey (PCLS) 2019–20, prompting rights activists and labour advocates to call for urgent action to protect children from exploitation and ensure access to education.
The figures were highlighted during a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club on June 12 to mark World Day Against Child Labour. The event was jointly organised by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE), the Child Rights Movement (CRM) and the Women Domestic Workers Union Punjab.
Speakers at the event described child labour as one of Pakistan’s most persistent child rights challenges, arguing that poverty, weak law enforcement, limited access to education and inadequate social protection continue to push millions of children into work.
According to the Punjab Child Labour Survey, more than 3.3 million children in Punjab work in agriculture, while over 800,000 are employed in the manufacturing sector. The survey found significant regional disparities, with Sahiwal Division reporting more than 750,000 child labourers — the highest in the province — while Rawalpindi Division recorded fewer than 250,000.
Boys remain disproportionately affected, with 4.1 million boys engaged in labour compared to 1.9 million girls.
Speaking at the event, Child Rights Movement Coordinator and Director Search for Justice Iftikhar Mubarak said child labour remains widespread despite legal commitments and policy frameworks. He cited estimates suggesting that approximately 8.6 million children are involved in labour nationwide, including six million in Punjab alone.
The speakers also raised concerns about children working in brick kilns, where many families remain trapped in debt bondage. Although bonded labour is prohibited under Pakistani law, they said the practice continues in parts of Punjab, forcing children into labour due to debts incurred by their parents.
Domestic child labour emerged as another major concern during the press conference.
According to media monitoring reports compiled by WISE, 208 cases involving violence and serious crimes against domestic workers were reported between January 2019 and June 2026. These included 51 deaths, 157 injuries, 33 reported rapes and 175 incidents of violence.
The findings showed that girls accounted for 86 per cent of victims. While most cases were reported to authorities, only 15 per cent reached legal resolution, highlighting what speakers described as serious shortcomings in law enforcement and access to justice.
WISE Executive Director Bushra Khaliq said child labour was not only an economic issue but also a question of children’s dignity, safety and fundamental rights. She argued that the continued presence of millions of working children reflected the state’s failure to guarantee constitutional protections and educational opportunities.
Punjab law prohibits children under the age of 15 from being employed in domestic work. However, speakers said weak enforcement, low public awareness and the absence of formal employment contracts leave many domestic workers unregistered and vulnerable to abuse.
According to figures shared during the event, Punjab is home to approximately 912,000 domestic workers, many of whom face exploitative working conditions.
Women Domestic Workers Union Punjab General Secretary Shazia Saeed said children from labouring and domestic worker families are often forced into work because of low household incomes and the absence of social protection measures. She called for fair wages and greater consultation with workers’ organisations when designing policies aimed at eliminating child labour.
Lawyer and child rights activist Syed Miqdad Naqvi argued that child labour has become socially normalised despite its harmful consequences. He said convictions in cases involving violence against children remain rare and called for stronger implementation of child protection laws.
Sudhaar Chief Executive Officer Rana Nadeem Iqbal urged authorities to bring working children into schools and fulfil obligations under Article 25-A of the Constitution, which guarantees free and compulsory education.
The speakers demanded strict implementation of the Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019, stronger action against bonded labour at brick kilns, updated child labour data, ratification of ILO Convention 189 and a nationwide awareness campaign to address the root causes of child labour.
They also urged the government to prioritise Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which calls for the elimination of child labour and modern slavery by 2030.