Country profile PAK
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10-17 | 10.1 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2021 | 10-17 | 3.2 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2021 | 10-17 | 6.8 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 10-17 | 12.5 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 10-17 | 10.1 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 10-17 | 11.4 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 1991 ; 2016 ; 2017 ; 2021 | C138 & C182 | Employment of Children Act, 1991- Schedule Parts I & II, Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act, 2016; Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Act, 2016 ; Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017 ; Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2021 | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Pakistan has adopted multiple lists of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18, but the coverage is uneven across provinces. The federal list under the 1991 Act is limited in scope. Punjab’s legislation prohibits hazardous work in brick kilns and other sectors, but allows limited domestic work for adolescents. Sindh has a more comprehensive law, while Balochistan’s 2021 legislation includes work in glass bangles, metal furnaces, and domestic settings in its hazardous work list. However, gaps remain in sectors such as mining, carpet weaving, and informal domestic work, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the ICT. The ILO has urged harmonisation and periodic revision of these lists across all jurisdictions. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1991 ; 2016 ; 2017 ; 2021 ; 2021 | C138 & C182 | Employment of Children Act, 1991 ; Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act, 2016; Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017; Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2021; ICT Domestic Workers Act, 2021 | 14 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Pakistan’s laws on hazardous work are not uniformly aligned with international standards. At the federal level, the minimum age for hazardous work remains 14, which is not in conformity with Conventions C138 and C182. While some provincial laws (e.g. Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan) prohibit hazardous work for children under 18 in specific sectors, inconsistencies remain. In the case of domestic work, the ICT Domestic Workers Act, 2021 prohibits employment of children under 16, with a proposed amendment to raise this to 18. The Balochistan Act (2021) includes child domestic work in its list of hazardous occupations prohibited to children under 18. However, there is no specific legislation yet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh, where a bill is under preparation. Children, especially girls, remain vulnerable to hazardous work in domestic settings, brick kilns, glass bangle production, and carpet weaving. The CEACR has urged Pakistan to harmonise laws across all provinces, raise the minimum age to 18 for all hazardous work, and strengthen enforcement and rehabilitation efforts. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1997 | C182 | No law currently prohibits the use of children in drug production or trafficking under federal or provincial legislation. | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | As of 2025, Pakistan does not have federal or provincial laws that explicitly criminalise the use, procuring, or offering of children for illicit drug-related activities, including the production and trafficking of drugs. This legal gap is especially noted in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where children are particularly vulnerable. The Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997, while defining drug offences, does not include any specific provisions on child involvement. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2017 , 2016 , 1860, 1973 | C182 | Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017 - Section 14(1)(a) ; Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act, 2016 - Section 11(3)(a) ; Constitution of Pakistan - Article 256 ; Private Military Organisations (Abolition and Prohibition) Act, 1973 | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | While there is no federal law explicitly prohibiting forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 into the armed forces, provincial laws in Sindh and Punjab prohibit the recruitment of children for armed conflict. Section 14(1)(a) of the Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017, and Section 11(3)(a) of the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act, 2016, prohibit such recruitment and impose penalties ranging from PKR 200,000 to 1 million and imprisonment from 3 to 10 years. Additionally, Article 256 of the Constitution and the Private Military Organisations Act (1973) prohibit the formation of private armed groups, which indirectly helps prevent child recruitment by non-state actors. However, the CEACR noted that children continue to be recruited and used by armed groups, especially in conflict-affected areas, and urged the Government to ensure the effective application of provincial laws and to demobilise all children associated with armed groups. No federal legislation defines a minimum age for voluntary recruitment into state armed forces. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2018 ; 1860 | C182 | Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act Pakistan - Sections 2, 3, 4, 7 ; Penal Code - Sections 366A, 370, 371A-B | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Pakistan prohibits the sale and trafficking of children for labour and sexual exploitation under multiple legal frameworks. The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 criminalises all forms of human trafficking, including child trafficking for exploitative labour and commercial sexual purposes. Sections 2, 3, 4, and 7 provide definitions, criminal liability, and penalties for trafficking offences. In addition, provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code — such as Section 366A (procuration of a minor girl), Section 370 (trafficking of persons), and Section 371A-B (selling or buying of a person for prostitution) — explicitly criminalise the sale and trafficking of children. These laws collectively address trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation, and align with Article 3(a) of Convention No. 182. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1860 ; 2016 ; 2017 ; 2018 | C182 | Pakistan Penal Code - Sections 292B and 292C ; Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act, 2016 - Section 11(3) ; Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017 - Section 14 ; Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Pakistan prohibits the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography under Sections 292B and 292C of the Pakistan Penal Code. These sections criminalise the use and circulation of any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor, including digital material. At the provincial level, Punjab and Sindh have reinforced these prohibitions through their respective child employment laws. Section 11(3) of the Punjab Act and Section 14 of the Sindh Act prohibit using children for pornographic purposes and prescribe penalties. Furthermore, the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is legally empowered to investigate and prosecute offences involving child pornography under cybercrime laws. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2021 | C138 | Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act - Section 2(1)(j) | 12 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Section 2(1)(j) of the Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (2021) defines light work as work performed by children aged 12 to 14 that is not harmful to their health or development and does not affect their school attendance or capacity to benefit from education or vocational training. Section 3(4)(a) further provides that such light work must be carried out outside school hours and must support the intellectual development of the child. While Balochistan has adopted this legislation, other jurisdictions including Punjab, Sindh, and the Islamabad Capital Territory are still in the process of reviewing or amending their laws to regulate light work. The Committee of Experts has requested that Pakistan provide updates on the list of light work activities in Balochistan and the status of legal reforms in other regions. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2021 ; 1934 ; 1923 ; 1991 | C138 | Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2021 - Section 3(3) ; Factories Act, 1934 - Sections 50–52 ; Mines Act, 1923 - Sections 2, 26 ; Employment of Children Act, 1991; | 14 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | The national minimum age for admission to work in Pakistan is 14 years, as permitted under the transitional clause of Convention C138. The Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2021, prohibits employment of all children under 14, whether paid or unpaid, in any economic activity. Other laws, such as the Factories Act and the Mines Act, similarly prohibit employment of children under 14 in specific sectors. The Employment of Children Act, 1991, remains in force in the Islamabad Capital Territory, but is currently under revision with ILO support to formally set 14 as the minimum working age. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | N/A | C138 | N/A | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Pakistan does not have a clear provision in national legislation establishing a minimum age for entry into apprenticeship or vocational training programmes in line with Convention C138. The Apprenticeship Ordinance, 1962, does not define a minimum age limit, and no federal or provincial legal framework currently ensures that apprentices must be at least 14 years old. The absence of this provision creates a risk of children under the minimum working age being engaged in training arrangements that are not regulated under educational oversight, which contravenes Article 6 of Convention 138. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2021 | C138 | Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2021- Sections 2(1)(j), 3(4)(a) | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | Only Balochistan has enacted detailed provisions on light work. Section 2(1)(j) of its 2021 Act defines light work as non-hazardous work for children aged 12–14 that does not affect health, development, or education. Section 3(4)(a) permits light work only outside school hours and in ways that support intellectual development. However, no official list of permitted light work activities has been finalised or published yet, though the Government has committed to preparing one. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2012 ; 1934 ; 2021 | C138 | Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012 - Section 3 ; Factories Act, 1934 - Section 50 ; Balochistan Employment of Children (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2021 - Section 3(3) ; | No | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Section 3 of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012, mandates compulsory education up to the age of 16 years. However, the minimum legal age for admission to employment remains 14 years under various labour laws, such as the Factories Act (Section 50) and the Employment of Children Act (1991). The Balochistan Employment of Children Act (2021) also sets the minimum working age at 14. This creates a legislative inconsistency, as children may enter work before completing compulsory education.The CEACR has urged the Government to raise the minimum age for admission to work to 16 in order to align it with the age of completion of compulsory education. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 11-OCT-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 06-JUL-2006 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The overall goal of this plan is to combat human trafficking and migrants smuggling in Pakistan by strengthening capacities of key institutions through capacity building, awareness raising, coordination, gender and age disaggregated data management, establishment of necessary mechanisms and international cooperation. Government of Pakistan is committed to collaborate and strengthen its efforts with regional and international bodies along with governmental and non-governmental actors to combat Human Trafficking and Migrants Smuggling in Pakistan through FIA being the lead agency charged with combating HTMS. | [{"link_name":"National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (2021-2025)","source_link":"https://www.unodc.org/documents/pakistan/2020.1.14_National_Action_Plan_to_Combat_Trafficking_in_Persons_and_Smuggling_of_Migrants.pdf"}] | 2021-2025 | National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (2021-2025) | Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) |
| Protects vulnerable workers by enforcing hazardous child labour laws, extending minimum age provisions to domestic and home-based work, ensuring minimum wages for children, and expanding access to education. In 2023, Sindh released funds to continue a child labour survey, with door-to-door canvassing scheduled for January 2024. | [{"link_name":"Sindh Labor Policy","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@asia/@ro-bangkok/@ilo-islamabad/documents/publication/wcms_647697.pdf"}] | 2017- Ongoing | Sindh Labor Policy | Sindh Labour Department |
| Targets the eradication of child and bonded labour, especially in brick kilns. Seeks to improve working conditions and establish social safety nets. Includes inspection, identification, and rehabilitation mechanisms via monitoring groups involving government, police, and civil society. In 2023, Punjab hired 10 new inspectors and referred 472 children to Child Protection Institutes (CPIs). | [{"link_name":"Punjab Labor Policy","source_link":"https://labour.punjab.gov.pk/system/files/Labour%20Policty%202018.pdf"}] | 2018 - Ongoing | Punjab Labor Policy | Punjab Labour Department |
| Aims to eradicate child labour, collect child labour statistics, enforce compulsory education laws, assist children through referrals, and raise awareness among families and stakeholders about the harms of child labour. In 2024, the Labour Department released findings of the 2022–2023 child labour survey. | [{"link_name":"Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Labor Policy","source_link":"http://directorateoflabour.kpdata.gov.pk/img/kp-labour-policy-2018/KP%20Labour%20Policy%202018.pdf"}] | 2018 - Ongoing | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Labor Policy | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Labour Department |