Sindh Survey Finds 1.6 Million Children Working, 800,000 in Hazardous Jobs

Overview

• The July–August survey by the Sindh Labour Department with UNICEF and the Bureau of Statistics found 10.3% of 5–17-year-olds working, down from 20.6% in 1996.
• About 800,000 working children face hazardous conditions in agriculture and industry, including excessive hours, extreme weather and unsafe tools.
• School attendance stood at 40.6% for working children versus 70.5% for non-working peers, highlighting a significant education gap.
• Prevalence varied sharply by district, led by Qambar Shahdadkot at 30.8% and Tharparkar at 29%, with Karachi lowest at 2.38%.
• Officials announced legal revisions, workplace inspections, social protection schemes and a chief minister–led task force, as SPARC urged poverty relief, job creation and better education access.