Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has declared that children are not merely the future of the nation but its most precious trust, asserting that no society can claim progress while its children are denied education, safety, and a carefree childhood.
In a message released by the Media Cell Bilawal House on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour, the PPP chairman urged a renewed national and global commitment to eradicating child labour. He emphasized that every child deserves a life filled with learning, hope, dignity, and opportunity—not exploitation, deprivation, and burdens beyond their years.
Constitutional Safeguards Highlighted
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution—a historic gift from Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto—prohibits slavery, forced labour, and the employment of children in hazardous occupations. The constitution also guarantees free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of five and sixteen.
“These constitutional safeguards reflect the state’s responsibility to protect children and secure their future,” the PPP chairman stated.
Benazir Bhutto’s Vision Reaffirmed
Reaffirming the PPP’s commitment to the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said she firmly believed that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the nation’s progress.
Call for Collective Action
The PPP chairman urged governments, employers, civil society, and communities to work collectively to eradicate child labour in all its forms and create conditions in which every child can live with dignity, security, and hope.
“Let us build a society where children are known not by the work they are forced to do, but by the dreams they are empowered to pursue,” he concluded.
