Child Protection Insights

3 mins read

Birth Registration

Birth Registration Rates in Pakistan by Urban and Rural Areas

Region Total (%) Urban (%) Rural (%)
National 42.2 60.3 33.7
ICT 82.4
Balochistan 37.8 46 34
KP 18.8 30.4 16.3
Punjab 57.8 70.5 51.7
Sindh 27.6 53.8 6.9
PDHS 2017-18

 

Provincial Birth Registration Rates by Gender

Provinces  Total (%) Male (%) Female (%)
Balochistan (2019-2020) 44.1 44.2 44.1
KP (2019) 29.5 29.7 29.3
Sindh (2018-2019) 34 34.4 33.6
GB (2016-2017) 18.6 19.2 18
Source: MICS

Child Discipline

Child Discipline (Percentage of children aged 1-14 years who experienced Physical Punishment/ any violent discipline method)
Provinces Total Male Female
Balochistan (2019-2020) 55.3 56.4 54
KP (2019) 82.7 84.6 80.6
Sindh (2018-2019) 79.6 80.5 78.6
Punjab (2017-2018) 80.8 81.8 79.8
GB (2016-2017) 84.6 86 83.1
Source: MICS

Child Labour

Punjab

Child Labour in Punjab (%)
Age Total Boys Girls
5-14 Years 13.4 16.8 9.7
5-17 Years 16.9 21.8 11.5
Source: PCLS 2019-20

 

Number & Percentage of children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Industry
Industry
Characteristics Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Manufacturing Water collection Construction Wholesale and retail trade Accommodation and food service activities Domestic Work Other Industries Total number of children in Child labour
Both sexes
Total 55.3 13.6 11.8 2.8 8.8 1.8 1.7 4.3 6,032,940
5-9 63 4.9 23.9 0.2 4.7 0.8 1.3 1.2 779,391
10-14 61.2 10.6 13.4 1 7.7 1.5 2 2.6 3,054,873
15-17 44.4 20.8 5.2 6.1 11.8 2.6 1.4 7.6 2,198,676
Boys
Total 49.5 12.3 13.4 4 12.4 2.5 0.6 5.3 4,061,509
5-9 63.1 4.5 23.3 0.3 6.4 0.8 0.5 1 481,545
10-14 55.8 9.3 16.2 1.5 10.9 2.1 0.7 3.4 2,022,144
15-17 37.1 18.4 6.7 8.5 16.2 3.5 0.5 9 1,557,820
Girls
Total 67.2 16.3 8.5 0.2 1.3 0.5 3.9 2.2 1,971,120
5-9 62.8 5.4 24.9 0.1 1.9 0.8 2.5 1.4 297,846
10-14 71.6 13.1 8 0.1 1.3 0.4 4.4 1.1 1,032,418
15-17 62.2 26.6 1.6 0.3 0.9 0.4 3.7 4.2 640,856
Source: PCLS (2019-2020)

 

Number & Percentage of children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Occupation
Major group of occupations
Characteristics Service & sales workers Skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers Craft and related trades workers Plant and machine operators Elementary occupations Other Occupations Total Number of children
Both sexes
Total 7.8 40 15.8 2.9 32.8 0.7 6,026,931
5-9 4.5 44.5 5 0.4 45.5 0.1 778,088
10-14 6.8 44.6 11.9 1.9 34.5 0.4 3,050,559
15-17 10.4 32.1 25 5.2 25.9 1.4 2,198,283
Boys
Total 10.8 35.8 15.7 4.1 33.1 0.6 4,058,685
5-9 6.2 45.7 4.7 0.4 42.9 0.1 481,213
10-14 9.5 40.8 11.5 2.8 35.2 0.3 2,019,683
15-17 14 26.2 24.4 7 27.3 1 1,557,789
Girls
Total 1.7 48.8 16 0.5 32.1 0.9 1,967,933
5-9 1.7 42.7 5.4 0.4 49.7 0.1 296,875
10-14 1.6 52 12.5 0.4 33.1 0.4 1,030,564
15-17 1.8 46.4 26.5 0.7 22.4 2.2 640,494
Source: PCLS (2019-2020)

 

KP

 

Child Labour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (%)
Age Total Boys Girls
5-17 Years 9 11.7 5.9
5-11 Years 5.3 5.9 4.7
12-13 Years 10.9 14.3 7.2
14-17 Years 15.5 22.3 7.9
Source: KP-CLS 2022

 

Number & Percentage of children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Industry
Industry
Characteristics Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Manufacturing Water collection Construction Wholesale and retail trade Accommodation and food service activities Transportation and storage Other Industries Total number of children in Child labour
Both sexes
Total 51.6 7.7 19.1 4.6 9.7 2.1 1.9 3.3 733,743
5-11 58.1 2.6 29.4 0.5 5.4 1.4 1.1 1.6 246,818
12-13 56.4 6.3 21.3 1.5 9.7 1.8 0.6 2.4 144,086
14-17 44.9 12 10.7 8.9 12.8 2.6 3.1 4.9 342,839
Boys
Total 54 8 9.7 6.4 13.1 2.9 2.7 3.2 508,152
5-11 65.1 3.6 18.2 0.6 7.5 2 1.6 1.3 145,016
12-13 61.1 6.3 11.8 1.9 13.1 2.6 0.9 2.4 100,030
14-17 45.1 11.1 4.3 11.4 16.2 3.4 4 4.6 263,105
Girls
Total 46.3 7.2 40.1 0.5 2 0.2 0.3 3.5 225,585
5-11 48 1.2 45.3 0.3 2.3 0.5 0.4 2 101,801
12-13 45.8 6.6 42.8 0.5 1.9 0 0.1 2.3 44,049
14-17 44.4 15.1 31.9 0.6 1.6 0.1 0.2 6.2 79,734
Source: KP-CLS 2022

 

Number & Percentage of children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Occupation
Major group of occupations
Characteristics Service & sales workers Skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers Craft and related trades workers Plant and machine operators Elementary occupations Other Occupations Total Number of children
Both sexes
Total 7.8 16.5 11.7 1.3 61.6 1.1 735,877
5-11 5.2 20.2 3.6 0.2 70.4 0.4 247,661
12-13 6.5 17.1 11.2 0.6 64.2 0.5 144,661
14-17 10.2 13.6 17.8 2.4 54.2 1.8 343,555
Boys
Total 10.3 15.9 13.6 1.8 57.2 1.3 510,004
5-11 7 21.5 5.2 0.3 65.5 0.6 145,742
12-13 8.5 18 13 0.7 59 0.7 100,423
14-17 12.8 11.9 18.4 3.1 52 1.9 263,839
Girls
Total 2.2 17.9 7.6 0.1 71.6 0.6 225,866
5-11 2.6 18.4 1.4 0.1 77.4 0.2 101,919
12-13 1.8 15.1 7 0.3 75.9 0 44,231
14-17 1.8 18.9 15.9 0.1 61.7 1.5 79,716
Source: KP-CLS (2022)

 

GB

Child Labour in Gilgit-Baltistan (%)
Age Total Boys Girls
5-17 Years 13.1 13.6 12.6
5-9 Years 4.2 4.3 4.1
10-13 Years 16.4 17.2 15.7
14-17 Years 23.7 25.1 22.3
Source: GB-CLS 2018-19

 

Number & Percentage of children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Industry
Industry
Characteristics Agriculture, forestry and fishing Manufacturing Water collection Construction Wholesale and retail trade Transportation and storage Accommodation and food service activities Other Industries Total number of children in Child labour
Both sexes
Total 76.2 2.1 13.7 3.4 2.4 0.4 0.9 0.9 49,514
5-9 67 0.3 29.9 0.9 1.3 0.2 0 0.4 6,751
10-13 77.6 1.1 16.9 1.3 1.3 0.1 0.8 0.9 19,377
14-17 77.6 3.5 6.3 5.8 3.8 0.8 1.3 1.1 23,385
Boys
Total 78.5 1.7 6 6 4.3 0.8 1.6 1 26,761
5-9 77.1 0.5 18.8 1.3 1.6 0.4 0 0.3 3,730
10-13 85.7 1.1 6.5 2.2 2.2 0.2 1.3 0.9 10,165
14-17 73.3 2.6 2 10.3 6.7 1.5 2.3 1.3 12,866
Girls
Total 73.4 2.6 22.6 0.3 0.3 0 0.1 0.8 22,752
5-9 54.5 0 43.7 0.5 0.8 0 0 0.5 3,021
10-13 68.8 1.2 28.5 0.4 0.2 0 0.2 0.8 9,212
14-17 82.8 4.5 11.5 0.1 0.2 0 0 0.8 10,519
Source: GB-CLS (2018-2019)

 

Number & Percentage of children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Occupation
Major group of occupations
Characteristics Service & sales workers Skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers Craft and related trades workers Plant and machine operators Elementary occupations Other Occupations Total Number of children
Both sexes
Total 2.4 41.3 3.2 0.4 52.5 0.1 49,419
5-9 0.6 30.6 0.4 0 68.4 0 6,743
10-13 1.6 42.1 1 0.2 54.9 0.1 19,266
14-17 3.6 43.7 5.9 0.8 45.8 0.2 23,409
Boys
Total 4.1 41 3.8 0.8 50.1 0.2 26,673
5-9 0.3 22.6 0.8 0 76.3 0 3,009
10-13 0.9 38 0.7 0 60.5 0 9,208
14-17 0.1 50.4 4.8 0 44.5 0.2 10,529
Girls
Total 0.4 41.7 2.6 0 55.2 0.1 22,746
5-9 0.3 22.6 0.8 0 76.3 0 3,009
10-13 0.9 38 0.7 0 60.5 0 9,208
14-17 0.1 50.4 4.8 0 44.5 0.2 10,529
Source: GB-CLS (2018-2019)

Child Marriage

 Pakistan

Married before the age of 15 4.70%
Married before the age of 18 18.30%
PDHS 2017-18

 

CHILD MARRIAGES IN PROVINCES

PERCENTAGE MARRIED BEFORE AGE 15
Provinces Male Female
Balochistan (2019-2020) 2 6.7
KP (2019) 1 7.3
Sindh (2018-2019) 2.6 7.7
Punjab(2017-2018) 1 4.4
Gilgit-Baltistan (2016-2017) 13.1
Source: MICS

 

Marriage Data For (15-19) Age Group in Pakistan

Area Total Population (15-19 Age) Never Married Married Widowed Divorced Separation
Pakistan 24,154,118 21,696,089 2,437,156 6,563 8,113 6,197
ICT 220,806 210,494 10,225 25 35 27
Balochistan 1,613,142 1,284,958 326,446 854 320 564
KP 4,288,474 3,724,185 561,722 1,045 758 764
Punjab 12,457,100 11,545,540 899,634 2,875 5,689 3,362
Sindh 5,574,596 4,930,912 639,129 1,764 1,311 1,480
Source: Census 2023

 

Child Online Protection

Country-Specific Reports of OCSEA Cases

Country 2021 2022 2023
India 4,699,515 5,675,324 8,923,738
Philippines 3,188,793 2,576,182 2,740,905
Pakistan 2,030,801 2,059,884 1,924,739
Indonesia 1,861,135 1,878,011 1,925,549
Bangladesh 1,743,240 2,145,098 2,491,368
Iraq 1,220,470 905,883 749,746
Algeria 1,171,653 731,167 762,754
Source Cybertipline

 

Local Complaints in Pakistan (2021-2023)

Year Local Complaints
2021 133
2022 187
2023 250
Source: FIA

 

FIRs Registered on OCSEA for Years 2022 and 2023

Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC) 2022 2023
Local Complaints 25 32
CyberTipline Reports 36 17
Interpol/Embassies 4 2
Total FIRs 65 51
Source: FIA

 

Alternative Care

Punjab

Category
Punjab (2017-2018)
0-4 5-9 10–14 15-17 Total
Living with neither biological parent (both dead) 0 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.2
Both parents living elsewhere 0.5 1 1.2 2.6 1.1
Both parents living abroad 0 0 0 0 0
Adopted, foster, or step-child 20.4 12.4 8.4 3.2 9.4
Source: MICS

Sindh

Category
Sindh (2018-2019)
0-4 5-9 10–14 15-17 Total
Living with neither biological parent (both dead) 0 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.2
Both parents living elsewhere 0.2 0.4 0.8 2.6 0.7
Both parents living abroad 0 0 0 0 0
Adopted, foster, or step-child 24.1 13.6 4 0.8 5.8
Source: MICS

KP

Category
KP (2019)
0-4 5-9 10–14 15-17 Total
Living with neither biological parent (both dead) 0 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.2
Both parents living elsewhere 0.2 0.3 0.4 3 0.7
Both parents living abroad 0 0 0 0 0
Adopted, foster, or step-child 32.7 11.8 6.2 2 6.9
Source: MICS

 

Balochistan

Category Balochistan (2019-2020)
0-4 5-9 10–14 15-17 Total
Living with neither biological parent (both dead) 0.3 0.4 1.3 3.2 0.9
Both parents living elsewhere 0.1 0.1 0.2 1.4 0.3
Both parents living abroad 0 0 0 0 0
Adopted, foster, or step-child 9.3 8.2 2.4 1.7 3.7
Source: MICS

 

GB

Category
GB (2016-2017)
0-4 5-9 10–14 15-17 Total
Living with neither biological parent (both dead) 0 0 0.4 0.3 0.2
Both parents living abroad 0 0 0 0.2 0
Source: MICS
Previous Story

Health Insights

Next Story

Health Facilities By Provinces

Latest from Blog

Why Students Cheat

On social media, a wave of videos recently exposed students using advanced gadgets to cheat in examinations. While the focus has been on policing misconduct, a deeper issue remains unexamined: students are not disengaging from education because of a lack of discipline, but because they increasingly question its value. For…

In Unsafe Hands

AN HIV outbreak among children should have been a turning point for Taunsa’s main public hospital. Instead, an investigation by the BBC suggests that little has changed. Undercover footage from the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, filmed about eight months after the government’s crackdown in March 2025, shows syringes being reused, injections administered through clothing, and unqualified…

Mpox Cases Rise to 25 as Two More Test Positive in Sindh

KARACHI: Two more patients have tested positive for mpox — one in Karachi and the other in Khairpur — on April 14, raising the provincial tally to 25 with, nine deaths this year. Sources told Dawn that all the cases are being linked to local transmission. According to a statement released by the health…
child marriage

Ending Child Marriages

THE Punjab Assembly’s committee approval of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2026, is a welcome and necessary step. By setting 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage for both genders, the province moves to correct a long-standing imbalance and protect children from a practice that has scarred generations. The…

No End to Resistance to Vaccine: Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal on April 14 said resistance against vaccines could not be mitigated despite spending tens of millions of dollars by Unicef. The minister stated this while chairing a meeting which reviewed the expenditures and measurable impact of the ongoing vaccination awareness campaigns. During a…
Go toTop