The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), in collaboration with UNDP Pakistan and with financial support from the European Union under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, convened a Balochistan Provincial Consultation on Monitoring Child Labour in the Private Sector, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to address one of Pakistan’s most persistent human rights challenges.
The consultation was attended by representatives from federal ministries and government agencies, chambers of commerce, civil society organisations, workers’ federations, and business associations. Participants reviewed prevailing child labour trends across Balochistan, identified gaps in enforcement and inter-institutional coordination, and discussed practical measures aligned with the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and Pakistan’s GSP+ commitments.
Discussions particularly focused on strengthening monitoring mechanisms in informal sectors, improving evaluation of private-sector compliance across supply chains, and promoting best practices in social protection schemes aimed at preventing and eradicating child labour.
The consultation forms part of a broader series of national and provincial engagements whose findings will feed into a forthcoming national report on child labour in the private sector. By consolidating provincial evidence and stakeholder perspectives, the NCRC aims to develop actionable, evidence-based recommendations to enhance enforcement, strengthen business accountability, and improve coordination among institutions.
Addressing the participants, Advocate Abdul Hayee, Member Balochistan, NCRC, stated that child labour is not merely a violation of children’s fundamental rights but also a reflection of governance failures. He emphasised that ending child labour is essential not only to meet Pakistan’s international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals, but also to fulfil the country’s moral and constitutional responsibility to protect children.
Meanwhile, Zainab Mustafa, Consultant at UNDP Pakistan, underscored the importance of improved collaboration among stakeholders, noting that a holistic and multi-sectoral approach is critical for addressing child labour violations in the private sector. She expressed hope that the upcoming report would serve as a practical guide for institutions working to combat child labour.
NCRC and UNDP reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration with federal and provincial governments, labour departments, civil society organisations, and the private sector to safeguard children’s rights and work towards the elimination of child labour in all its forms.
