Pakistan reported 1,914 crimes against children between January and June 2026, including 1,015 sexual abuse cases, according to child-rights organisation Sahil. The report highlights abductions, missing children, child marriages and concerns over implementation of child-protection laws.
Pakistan recorded 1,914 reported cases of crimes against children between January and June 2026, with more than half involving sexual abuse, according to a report by child-rights organisation Sahil. The findings have raised concerns about child safety, the implementation of protection laws and the effectiveness of institutional responses to offences against minors.
According to a report published by Asian News Post, nearly 45 per cent of the recorded incidents took place in victims’ own homes. The findings suggest that children face risks not only in public spaces but also in environments traditionally considered safe.
Sahil’s six-month report documented 1,015 cases of child sexual abuse, 558 abductions, 101 missing children, 35 child marriages and 98 cases involving pornography following sexual abuse. The report also recorded 49 cases of infants found abandoned by roadsides. Girls accounted for 58 per cent of the reported victims.
The report highlighted concerns about the relationship between victims and alleged perpetrators. Citing data attributed to Senator Sherry Rehman, it stated that 43 per cent of accused individuals were known to their victims. According to the report, this can make abuse particularly difficult for children to disclose, especially when the alleged perpetrator belongs to their family or social circle.
Sahil warned that abuse within households could leave children with limited opportunities to escape or challenge the violence. The organisation also questioned whether existing legal safeguards were being translated into effective protection, timely intervention and accountability.
Geographically, Punjab accounted for 80 per cent of the cases recorded during the first half of 2026, while Sindh represented 15 per cent. The report further stated that 43 per cent of the incidents were reported from rural areas, highlighting the importance of accessible reporting mechanisms and child-protection services beyond major urban centres.
The findings also drew attention to the implementation of Pakistan’s Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020. The legislation was enacted following the rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab Ansari in Kasur and was intended to strengthen the response to missing children.
However, according to the report, important provisions of the law remained unimplemented. In June 2026, the Islamabad High Court was reportedly informed that the agency intended to issue rapid alerts for missing children had yet to be established.
The report stressed that passing legislation alone was insufficient to ensure child safety. Effective implementation requires functioning institutions, clearly defined procedures, coordination among authorities and mechanisms to hold responsible agencies accountable.
Sahil also cautioned against interpreting the latest figures as evidence of a significant decline in crimes against children. The 1,914 cases recorded between January and June 2026 represented a slight decrease from the 1,956 cases documented during the corresponding period in 2025.
The organisation noted that its figures were compiled from newspaper reports. Consequently, the statistics may not reflect the full extent of the problem, as many incidents are never reported to the media or may remain undisclosed.
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The findings underline the need for effective enforcement of child-protection laws, improved reporting systems, timely investigations and stronger support for victims. Greater public awareness, accessible complaint mechanisms and coordinated action by law-enforcement agencies and welfare institutions are also important components of child protection.
The report’s findings have renewed attention on the challenges facing Pakistan in protecting children from sexual abuse, abduction, exploitation and other forms of violence. It emphasised that meaningful progress depends not only on legal provisions but also on their consistent implementation and the ability of institutions to respond promptly when children are at risk.
