Protect the children

Last Sunday at around 11pm, I went to a restaurant about two miles from my home with my wife and children for dinner. As we sat waiting for our meal, two little girls, who appeared to be between 10 and 12 years old, approached our table carrying crunchy Papadom. They politely requested that we buy one. We declined to buy the snacks because we had no desire for them.

Is it not an injustice that children of such a young age, who should be playing with other children, are selling edible items from one restaurant to another late at night to earn a few rupees?

My children, however, were curious. They were surprised to see girls their own age alone at such a late hour without any adult accompanying them. As they had never experienced such a situation themselves, they began talking to one of the girls, who looked innocent and shy.

During the conversation, the girl politely asked if she could have some water. She explained that the restaurant staff did not allow her to drink bottled water because it was sold to customers. She said she was thirsty and had not found any nearby source of drinking water. We immediately gave her water.

My elder daughter gently asked where her father was and why he allowed her to work alone at night. The girl's answer was heartbreaking. She said her father stayed at home because he did not work. When asked what he did all day, she quietly replied that he was addicted to drugs. Most of his time, she said, was spent with other addicts. He forced her to earn and hand over the money so he could buy drugs. If she returned home empty-handed, he would beat her with a stick and refuse to let her sleep.

Her innocence convinced us that she was not lying. As the father of two daughters, I felt immense sympathy for her. All I could do was to give the two girls some money before they left. And I knew that this small act of kindness could not solve their problems.

What worried us was their safety. It was already late at night, and these young girls remained exposed to countless dangers. Pakistan has witnessed numerous cases of children, especially girls, becoming victims of abuse, kidnapping, rape, and even murder. Leaving vulnerable children on the streets at such hours places their lives at enormous risk.

These little girls are victims not only of parenting neglect but also of broader social injustice. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. We have become accustomed to seeing children working in restaurants, tea stalls, workshops, mechanic shops, salons, markets, and on busy streets. Instead of attending school, playing with friends, and enjoying a secure childhood, they are forced to earn a living for their families. Their childhood is sacrificed for survival. Pakistan has laws that prohibit child labour, yet these laws are too often ignored or poorly enforced.

In Pakistan, 8.6 million children are engaged in child labour, with over 6.6 million performing odd works. These children often face harsh working conditions, physical abuse, emotional trauma, and constant exploitation. Such experiences rob them of their confidence, damage their mental and emotional development, and deny them the opportunity to grow as a normal child.

Eradicating child labour requires more than sympathy. The government must strictly enforce child protection laws, expand access to quality education, and provide social support for impoverished families. Equally important, society must stop accepting child labour as a normal part of everyday life. Every child deserves safety, education, dignity, and the chance to dream.

The little girl I met that night was selling Papadom, but what she truly needed was personal protection, quality education, and hope for a better future - her fundamental rights. Our claims of progress and development will remain incomplete until that every child enjoys these basic rights.