Pakistan's 1.2 million street children abandoned & exploited

An estimated 1.2 million children are on the streets of Pakistan’s major cities and urban centres, constituting the country’s largest and most ostracised social group.

These include ‘Runaway’ children who live or work on the street, as well as the minority that return to their families at the end of the day with their meagre earnings.

According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey, 72% of working children do not have contact with their families and 10% have no knowledge of their families.

“World Vision is gravely concerned with their growing numbers. Children are turning to the streets amidst increasing poverty, unemployment, swelling family size and social disintegration seen in abuse in schools, as well as domestic violence, neglect and family breakdown,” said World Vision Country Director, Sigurd Hanson.

Most survive by prostituting themselves, stealing or smuggling, making them vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, jaundice and liver or kidney disorders. A large proportion sniffs cheap, readily available solvents to starve off hunger, loneliness and fear.

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Congressman Ackerman meeting with President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan about the U.S. war on terrorism.