ISLAMABAD: Based on data gathered from 84 national and regional newspapers, a leading child rights group in Pakistan said in a new report that there was a four percent increase in the number of child abuse cases last year, with more than eight children abused every day in Pakistan in 2020.
As there is no mandatory reporting of sexual abuse cases in Pakistan and many parts of the country are remote and literary rates and awareness of laws is minimal, a large number of sexual abuse cases go unreported, Sahil said in a report released on Thursday, implying that the total number of cases in the country could be much higher than the data gathered by the non-profit using newspaper figures.
Around 51% victims out of 2,960 cases of child abuse reported in the media in 2020 were girls while 49 percent were boys.
“The research shows that children are most vulnerable to abuse in the age group [of] 6-15 years,” the report, Cruel Numbers 2020, said, adding that children as young as 0-5 years also suffered sexual abuse.
In 1,780 cases, children were abused by their acquaintances while service providers, such as teachers, shopkeepers and drivers, were involved in 91 such cases.
“A total of 91 cases were family members and relatives, and in 92 cases neighbors were involved,” the report added. “In 468 cases, strangers were involved in abusing children.”
Sahil’s findings revealed that 58 percent cases of child abuse were reported in Punjab, 29 percent in Sindh, seven percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and three percent in Islamabad Capital Territory.
The organization also showed that 65 percent such cases took place in rural areas while 35 percent occurred in urban centers.
While more than eight children were abused every day in Pakistan, about 13 percent of incidents of assault were not even reported to the police in 2020, Sahil said.
Child abuse cases on the rise, leading Pakistani child rights group says
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Child abuse cases on the rise, leading Pakistani child rights group says
- More than eight children were abused every day in Pakistan in 2020
- 2,960 cases of child abuse reported in the media in 2020
Pakistan showcases smart solutions, tech innovation at ITCN Asia expo in Lahore
- ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference
- It highlights developments in cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, e-commerce and digital governance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is showcasing its growing technology sector at the 27th edition of ITCN Asia at the Expo Center in Lahore, bringing together innovators, startups, investors and policymakers for one of the country’s premier technology exhibitions, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday.
ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference, which is regularly held to highlight developments in fields including cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital governance.
The three-day event, which began on Saturday, focuses on networking, knowledge-sharing and lead generation, with conferences facilitating a learning environment for tech enthusiasts and professionals.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja called ITCN Asia a “distinguished” global event showcasing tech advancement in Pakistan, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Pakistan’s use of cybersecurity has put the country on the forefront of technological advancement and strengthened global trust in our technology sector,” she was quoted as saying.
The exhibition features more than 850 booths, over 3,000 global brands, international delegates, investors and government leaders, according to the organizers.
Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) is showcasing electric vehicle and electronics assembly by global brands, including BYD, Samsung and Google at the exhibition.
The STZA has set up a national pavilion at the exhibition with facilitation from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to a statement issued by the cabinet division.
The move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to boost foreign investment in its technology sector as the country’s startups and software houses have attracted global interest in recent years. Pakistan’s IT exports rose by $180 million to $1,057 million during
July-September last year, compared with $877 million in the same period of 2024, according to the information technology ministry.
Pakistan’s technology sector is also advancing in AI and cloud computing, marked by the launch of Pakistan’s first sovereign AI cloud in November, designed to keep sensitive data domestic and support growth in the broader digital ecosystem.
