Evaluating the impact of poverty on child labour and physical abuse: a study of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

Sumama Madni; Muhammad Ajmal; Alia Fehmi; Rizwan Ali Shinwari

doi:10.47264/idea.jhsms/5.2.5

Authors

Sumama Madni Department of Governance and Public Policy, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4377-2099
Muhammad Ajmal Department of Public Policy, Riphah International University Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0433-1215
Alia Fehmi Department of Governance and Public Policy, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7345-9135
Rizwan Ali Shinwari Department of Governance and Public Policy, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan | Department of Public Policy, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4624-2390

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.jhsms/5.2.5

Keywords:

Child labour, Poverty, Child legislation, Illiteracy, Out of school children, Physical abuse, Mentally sound children, Physically sound children, Child welfare

Abstract

Children are the next generation of any society. Mentally and physically sound children can ensure a good future for a country. So, governments around the world prioritize their welfare programs for children, but the case in Pakistan is different. They are one of the few marginalised groups which are left at the mercy of cruel people. According to reports, there are 22.8 million children out of school and approximately 12.5 million working as labourers in the job market in Pakistan. Child labour is a sustained menace in a country that has a painful past and a dark future. It has multifaceted causes and implications. This research is undertaken to highlight the causes and implications of child labour and its subsequent impacts on the health of the children involved in the form of physical torture and abuse. The data was collected from key people, including owners of restaurants, workshops, and other such places. During the data collection process, it was revealed that most of the people responded that due to poverty factors, children are forced to join the labour market. They recommend that the government launch more poor-friendly projects, including the Benazir Income Support Program for the uplifting poor.