Children in Pakistan face various challenges due to factors such as poverty, lack of access to quality education, health issues, and the impact of conflict and natural disasters. A significant number of children in Pakistan live in poverty, which limits their access to basic needs like food, clean water, and shelter. This can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth, and other health problems. Many children, especially girls, do not have access to quality education due to societal norms, financial constraints, and the lack of infrastructure, especially in rural areas. This perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits future opportunities. In some parts of Pakistan, children work in hazardous conditions, including in factories, agriculture, and domestic labor. This deprives them of education and childhood, exposing them to exploitation and abuse. Access to healthcare is limited in some regions, leading to high infant mortality rates and the spread of preventable diseases. The inability to provide essential health services like polio vaccinations and poor infant care practices, such as low breastfeeding rates, contribute significantly to the crisis. Malnutrition, in particular, is a major concern that affects children’s development and survival rates. Early marriage remains a problem in certain areas, often depriving young girls of education and leading to health risks due to early pregnancies. Especially children in conflict zones, particularly in the areas affected by insurgency and terrorism, suffer from trauma, displacement, and a lack of access to essential services. This scenario is deeply reflective of the alarming issues regarding child welfare in Pakistan. The statistics and facts laid out paint a picture of a country struggling with severe challenges related to its children’s health, education, and overall well-being. Around 26 million children are out of school, and the quality of education for those who are in school is abysmal, with the World Bank estimating that 77% of children face learning poverty. This reveals a profound failure in the educational system to equip children with the skills necessary for personal and professional success. The country’s high fertility rate, combined with inadequate resources for health, education, and welfare, exacerbates the problem. With 6 million children born each year, the resources needed to nurture them such as nutrition, healthcare, and education are thin, creating a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. Pollution, especially smog, has a detrimental effect on the health of children, leading to deaths and long-term developmental issues. The lack of adequate environmental policies and actions to mitigate pollution further endangers the population’s health. Children with special needs are often overlooked and with inadequate birth registration and early diagnostic systems, these children are denied necessary interventions, limiting their chances for a fulfilling life. Historically, Pakistan has invested less in health and education compared to countries with similar levels of development. Even as the population grows, the country continues to neglect crucial investments in its most valuable resource like its youth. The demographic dividend that the country hopes to gain from a youthful population is at risk if current trends continue. Without addressing malnutrition, poor education, environmental hazards, and the lack of healthcare, this dividend will instead result in a burden of undereducated, unhealthy, and unskilled individuals who are unable to contribute to the nation’s growth. The lack of action in terms of health, education, environmental safety, and overall welfare points to a larger issue of governmental neglect and misallocation of resources. For Pakistan to secure a prosperous future, the country must urgently invest in the well-being and development of its children. Today’s youth will shape tomorrow’s Pakistan. Efforts by both governmental and non-governmental organizations are ongoing to address these issues, but there remains much to be done to improve the situation for children in Pakistan.
