Joint efforts for child protection emphasised

Islamabad:Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmed Shah urged all segments of society to unite in protecting children from exploitation and securing their right to education, dignity, and a better future.

In a message on the World Day Against Child Labour, the minister said child labour was both a symptom and driver of poverty. He underscored the government's unwavering resolve to break the vicious cycle through legal enforcement, education, and comprehensive social support.

“We reaffirm our collective responsibility to protect children from exploitation. Let us build a Pakistan where no child is forced to work, and every child is free to learn, grow, and dream,” said Minister Shah.

He pointed to Article 11(3) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which explicitly prohibits employment of children under 14 in hazardous industries, as a fundamental legal safeguard that must be respected and enforced nationwide.

Highlighting the government’s flagship social protection efforts, Shah noted that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) particularly its ‘Waseela-e-Taleem’ initiative is enabling vulnerable families to keep children in school through conditional cash transfers. Additionally, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s Child Labour Schools are providing education, stipends, and rehabilitation services to thousands of working children, helping them transition toward safer, more hopeful futures.

“Our programmes are designed not just to alleviate poverty, but to eliminate its worst outcomes like child labour by empowering families through education, health, and income support,” the minister added.

But Shah also made it clear that government action alone is insufficient. He called upon ‘employers to respect child labour laws’, ‘parents to prioritize schooling,’ and ‘civil society, media, and religious leaders’ to keep children’s rights at the forefront of national discourse. As Pakistan continues to align itself with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which aims to end child labour in all its forms, the Minister’s message served as a poignant reminder: child protection is a shared responsibility. “Let us stand together for our children, for justice, and for a future where every child holds a pen instead of a tool,” he said.