Punjab sees rise in child abuse cases

Report finds 1,956 cases in early 2025, most reported from Punjab

LAHORE:

Pakistan witnessed nearly 2,000 reported incidents of child abuse in just the first six months of 2025, with an alarming number involving sexual violence, abductions and exploitation, according to a disturbing new report by Sahil, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to child protection.

According to the report, a total of 1,956 cases of child abuse were reported across Pakistan during the first six months of 2025, with 950 cases specifically involving sexual abuse.

The report highlights that from January to June 2025, 605 cases of child abduction and 192 reports of missing children were recorded. Moreover, 34 cases involved child marriages or incidents of wani (a traditional practice of giving girls in compensation to settle disputes). In another disturbing revelation, 62 newborns were found either dead or abandoned at various locations.

Gender-wise, 52% of the victims were girls (1,019 cases), while 44% were boys (875 cases). The remaining 3% involved newborns. The most affected age group was between 11 and 15 years, accounting for 658 sexual abuse cases.

Regionally, 72% of all reported cases emerged from Punjab, followed by 22% from Sindh, while the remaining 6% were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and the federal territories.

Urban areas reported 59% of the total incidents, while 41% occurred in rural settings. Notably, the age of the victims was not mentioned in 389 cases.

The report further disclosed that in 49% of the cases, the perpetrators were known to the victims, while 20% involved strangers. Encouragingly, 83% of the victims or their families approached the police, though 27 cases were never registered, and one case was outrightly refused by the police.

Separately, the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) released a report in January 2025 showing a 220% increase in child sexual abuse cases over the past five years.

During this period, 5,398 cases of child sexual abuse were documented, indicating an average of three children abused per day.

Child rights activists have expressed deep concern over the continuous rise in such cases, urging the government to implement stronger legislation, ensure its effective enforcement and launch widespread public awareness campaigns.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), stated that the reporting of child abuse cases reflects increasing public trust in law enforcement agencies.

She stressed that reporting was crucial to delivering justice to victims and their families.