Abandoned daughters

The bodies of five newborn girls, discarded like garbage and mutilated by stray animals in Sialkot, reveal a horrifying reality of Pakistan's deep-seated disregard for female life. This is a symptom of a society's moral deprivation, where daughters are still seen as burdens, where gender preference is so deeply entrenched that some choose to kill rather than raise a girl.

While the police have launched an investigation, scouring CCTV footage and using intelligence networks to trace those responsible, or so they claim, the real question that should be asked is: what drives parents to abandon their own blood in such a brutal manner? Even more horrific is the fact that this is not an isolated incident. Across Pakistan, baby girls are frequently left to die in dumpsters and deserted streets, yet the nation remains disturbingly silent. The law already criminalises infanticide, but weak enforcement and societal complicity allow this cruelty to persist. Therefore, harsher penalties for infanticide and child abandonment must be reinforced, ensuring that those who commit such crimes are held accountable. The government must go beyond arrests and also focus on prevention. Safe havens - such as the cradles placed outside Edhi centres - must be expanded so desperate parents have alternatives. Religious leaders, too, must speak out, making it clear that Islam condemns the killing of children, regardless of gender.

Beyond policy measures, there must be a fundamental shift in how daughters are perceived in society. A key driver of gender discrimination is the belief that daughters are financial liabilities, often due to cultural expectations surrounding dowry and limited economic opportunities for women. To counter this, the government should invest in initiatives that empower women economically, such as vocational training programmes and incentives for female entrepreneurship. When families see that daughters can contribute financially, the stigma surrounding their birth may begin to fade.