The State of Children in Pakistan 2025 is the second annual flagship report by the National Commission on the Rights of Child under the NCRC Act, 2017. It provides an updated assessment of children’s rights in Pakistan, covering progress, gaps
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The NCRC Child Advisory Panel (CAP) comprises 37 children from across Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory and Gilgit-Baltistan. CAP members come from diverse backgrounds, including children from religious minorities, the transgender community and children with
Despite significant progress, Pakistan lags in achieving SDG target 4.1. UNICEF reports that Pakistan has the second-highest proportion of out-of-school children globally. Millions of children are denied access to basic education in Pakistan each year. An estimated 25.1 million Pakistani
Child labour in Pakistan remains a structurally embedded challenge, especially within the private sector where informal, home-based, and subcontracted production systems dominate. Despite constitutional protections, significant implementation gaps and weak enforcement continue to undermine prevention and monitoring, particularly in sectors
Education remains a crucial driver of human development and economic growth in Pakistan. Investments in learning strengthen human capital, enhance productivity, and expand opportunities for innovation and inclusive progress. Article 25-A of the Constitution guarantees free and compulsory education for
In Pakistan, like many countries across the globe, menstruation is perceived as a shameful and private matter that is not meant to be discussed openly. Due to this culture of shame and secrecy, adolescent girls in Pakistan often lack accurate
This policy brief focuses on the child protection needs and lived experiences of migrant and forcibly displaced children in Pakistan. It draws on recent research conducted by UNICEF Pakistan and UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, in
The State of the World’s Children 2025 warns that global progress in reducing child poverty is slowing and risks reversal due to conflict, climate shocks, debt pressures and deep cuts in development aid. About 412 million children live in extreme
Forcibly displaced children and other child migrants are at higher risk of harmful practices and protection risks, including violence, family separation, human trafficking, increased child marriage, gender-based violence (GBV), forced labour and psychosocial distress. In Pakistan, where nearly half of
The Gender Parity Report – Islamabad Capital Territory offers a detailed assessment of gender equality across justice, education, economy, health, and governance. While progress is visible in areas like female judicial representation and school enrolment, wide disparities remain in employment,