The coerced adolescent! By M.Tahzeeb Mehdi

Today when i was in hospital with elder brother, the bear-footed adolescents were there in waiting room announcing again and again "Polish, Polish, Polish". This type of labour polishing shoes, is present all over the country performed by Men, elders and teenagers but today this scene let my eyes wet when the children of age about 5-6 were doing this. They got my all attentions and let myself steer and think about him. They were not only single individual but they were representing me the 12 million childs of country who needs books and pen instead of working instruments. So let's discuss this matter. More than 12.5 million children are involved in child labor in Pakistan. According to Reuters, “Pakistan’s Labour Force Survey, 2014-15 showed that of those children aged between 10 and 14 years active in child labor, 61 percent were boys and 88 percent came from rural areas.” (¹) In Pakistan, 38.8 percent of the population is living in poverty, with one in four individuals living in acute poverty. For many citizens in Pakistan, it is hard to find a job or to secure one paying enough to provide for a family. Students from impoverished backgrounds who are unable to enter school are most likely to become affected by child labor in Pakistan. In Sindh province, child labour is experienced more than other provinces.In 2018, to conquer the war against child labour, the first-ever parliamentary resolution on child rights was passed unanimously—a major achievement. But all in vane because in thia country the bills are passet just on written level. Since 1947 we as a nation, are facing economical crisis of both Macro and Micro level. We faced many wars against India. We fought for Afghanistan and let them invade in. The Afghan immigrants where mostly poor, jobless and living hand to mouth. Not only our government helped them and provided basic life needs but also International organization such as UNICEF, UNESCO and WHO also granted funds for afghan nationals childs and local childs to stop labouring. The issue is that after 70 years of Independence, why still we are facing these crisis? If we are passing from such critical situations then why Foreign office let afghan citizens invade? So if those immigrants were provided territory, then they must be provided shelter and needs. Why our economy is still less than other developing states like china? Why the diplomats and bureaucrats didn't face attentions to such type of child labours? Its a bitter reality that we can't facilitate them. Just like these immigrants, we are also helpless. Despite of slogan of "Islamic welfare state" , "Food clothing and shelter" etc are still raised in election campaigns but solid steps haven't been done for childs . Neither i am a political party supporter nor an anti-afghan activist. I am not only discussing Afghan immigrants but also localities of Pakistan in Punjab, Sindh and KPK. To whom i should ask the unmerciful, the parents or the government. The government tried to let them on study track but parents derailment from the study track caused child labour. Parents should let them make their bright future. Those hands which are at the age of holding toys and pencils are now bearing instruments of work and labour. They need mother kindness but now in public they need our kind attentions. I saw the little today who was bear-footed but still he was making other shoe shine. I came to an answer that both parents and government shouldn't be labeled as unmerciful, the Hunger is Traitor. (¹) UNICEF Pakistan annual report 2018.