3.38m children forced to work in Sindh, says MPA Rabia Azfar

6.2 million children out of school in Sindh

KARACHI: Highlighting sexual harassment and other forms of exploitation of children in the province, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Rabia Azfar claimed that around 400 children had been sexually assaulted in Sindh over the last 12 months, while 3.38 million children were involved in child labour in the province.

Addressing the Sindh Assembly on Monday, she inquired why the provincial chief minister and other relevant authorities were quiet on the matter.

Referring to an incident where a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her stepfather, the lawmaker pointed out that instead of taking action against the alleged rapist, the authorities instead handed the child over to a non-governmental organisation.

“The portfolio of the Sindh Child Protection Authority lies with the CM, who cannot spare time to deal with such matters. I suggest giving it to someone else who can work as a full-fledged minister [for this],” she insisted.

Turning to the education budget, she asked why six comprehensive schools, built for an estimated Rs4 billion, were still not functional.

“Despite massive amounts of money given to the education sector each year, around 6.2 million children are still out of school,” she stated, criticising the education department’s performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2020.