Wajahat Ali
PhD scholar
International Relations at Minhaj University Lahore and a social activist.
His research focuses on Pakistan Affairs, Conflict and Cooperation, Diplomacy, Human Security, and Interfaith Harmony.
He can be reached at connect.wajahatali@gmail.com
Introduction: Education – A Divine and Social Imperative
The first revelation to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) began with the word “Iqra,” meaning “read,” underscoring the paramount importance of education in Islam. The Quran reinforces this, stating: “Allah will elevate in rank those who believe and those who have knowledge.” This reverence for learning transcends Islam, resonating across Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and other traditions. As Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared at Pakistan’s First Education Conference in November 1947, “The future of our state will and must accordingly depend upon the type of education we give to our children and the way we bring them up as future citizens of Pakistan.” Education is both a divine mandate and a societal necessity, shaping nations and safeguarding children from exploitation like child labor.
The Growing Education Gap
In Pakistan, 25.1 million children (35%) aged 5–16 are out of school, often forced into long hours of hazardous work instead of studying. Poverty, lack of resources, and natural disasters including the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating 2022 floods, and recent heatwaves have deepened this crisis. The International Labour Organization highlights that such work robs children of their childhood and potential, perpetuating cycles of exploitation. In May 2024, the Prime Minister declared an education emergency, signaling a national commitment to tackling the issue of Out-of-School Children (OOSC). Urgent investment in education infrastructure and social protection systems is critical to ensure these children can access quality schooling and break free from labor.
The Human Cost: When Childhood Becomes Labour
Child labour robs children of their innocence, education, and health.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines it as work that “deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity.”
🌍 138 million children worldwide are trapped in child labour.
⚠️ 54 million are engaged in hazardous work.
👨🌾 61% in agriculture, 27% in services, 13% in industry.
Sub-Saharan Africa holds the largest number, but South Asia, including Pakistan, remains severely affected.
The World Day Against Child Labour (June 12) serves as a reminder of millions of children in Pakistan still denied education and a safe childhood.
A Little Hero: The Legacy of Iqbal Masih
In Pakistan’s carpet industry, Iqbal Masih emerged as a symbol of resistance against child labor. Born in 1983 in Muridke, near Lahore, Iqbal was four when his impoverished family pledged him to a factory to repay a 600-rupee loan. For six years, he endured grueling 12-hour days, chained to a loom, his growth stunted by malnutrition. At ten, inspired by Pakistan’s 1992 ban on bonded labor, he escaped and joined the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, freeing thousands of children. His eloquence earned him the 1994 Reebok Human Rights Award in Boston, where he declared, “I am free now!” Tragically, on April 16, 1995, at twelve, Iqbal was assassinated in his village, with many suspecting a targeted killing. Posthumously honored with Pakistan’s Tamgha-e-Shujaat in 2022, his story, chronicled in The Little Hero by Andrew Crofts, inspires global efforts to protect children through education. His legacy fuels advocacy for stronger laws and social protections to end child exploitation.
Education as the Ultimate Protection
Education is the most powerful tool to protect children from poverty, exploitation, and child labour. When children have access to quality education, they gain not only literacy and numeracy but also the confidence, awareness, and skills needed to shape a better future. Unfortunately, millions of children in Pakistan remain out of school due to systemic underfunding and lack of resources. To break this cycle, it is crucial that education funding is increased to at least 4% of the GDP, aligning with global standards and ensuring every child’s right to learn. Equally important is the improvement of teacher stipends, as motivated and fairly compensated educators are the backbone of a thriving education system. Schools must also provide WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities and mental health support to create safe, inclusive, and healthy learning environments. Moreover, expanding Non-Formal Education (NFE)—as outlined in Pakistan’s Federal NFE Policy 2025—can help reach marginalized communities by integrating literacy with vocational and skill-based learning. This approach not only empowers children and youth but also equips them to contribute productively to society. By investing in education today, we secure the ultimate protection for future generations—freedom from poverty, exploitation, and hopelessness.
Technology for Change: Ulearn’s Digital Revolution
Ulearn is driving a digital revolution in education through its Ed-Tech Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) — a transformative model that blends live online classes with in-class academic support to deliver high-quality learning to students across Pakistan and abroad. With over 2,100 students already benefiting, the program connects even rural and expatriate learners to expert teachers and modern resources, breaking barriers of geography and inequality.
Led by CEO Waseem Ahmad, Dr. Muddassar Natt, and Brig. Muhammad Rashid Minhas (Rtd.), Ulearn is committed to making equitable, tech-enabled education accessible to all. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), Ulearn’s mission is not just to digitize learning but to democratize it — ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed through innovative technology and inclusive learning solutions.
Conflict, Climate, and Crisis: New Threats to Learning
Education in conflict-affected and disaster-prone regions is facing unprecedented challenges, with schools increasingly caught in the crossfire of violence, displacement, and environmental catastrophe. In South Asia, particularly Pakistan, recurring militancy and devastating floods have forced widespread school closures, pushing thousands of children — especially girls — out of the classroom and into cycles of vulnerability. These overlapping crises not only disrupt learning but also erode the social and emotional foundations that education provides. Addressing this urgent situation demands coordinated policy action, stronger community resilience, and investment in safe, inclusive, and climate-resilient education systems to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, retains their fundamental right to learn and build a better future.
Conclusion: A Call to Protect the Future
Child labour is not just an economic issue it is a moral failure.
Every child deserves the right to learn, dream, and grow.
By investing in education, empowering families, and embracing innovation, Pakistan can ensure that no child is forced to choose work over learning.
“When a child holds a book instead of a tool, a nation steps toward its freedom.”
Author Bio
Wajahat Ali is a PhD scholar in International Relations at Minhaj University Lahore and a social activist.
His research focuses on Pakistan Affairs, Human Security, Diplomacy, and Interfaith Harmony.
📧 connect.wajahatali@gmail.com
