The Plight Of Pakistani Children: “Ye Bacha Kaisa Bacha Hai?”

“Ye Bacha Kaisa Bacha Hai?”  is a short poem by Ibn-e-Insha. If you ever get a chance of reading it then I can bet it will help you raise countless questions regarding the plight of Pakistani children. We sitting in our air-conditioned rooms and living the luxurious lives never tend to take some time out to actually focus on those who are missing the basic necessities of life. Forget homes, cars and luxuries, we are talking about basic needs like clean water, education, clothes and food.

Read: Why Every Pakistani Girl Needs At Least 12 Years Of Education

During a heated argument with my imaginary self, I came up with the thought that the world needs a balance to survive, the balance of existence of good and bad, rich and poor, healthy and unhealthy etc. and I told myself, if this so-called balance is really that logical and it needs to exist then should we stop paying attention to the problems and sit on a recliner and watch the show? This is when Ibn-e-Insha’s poem came to my mind. I clearly remember that back in the mid 90’s PTV made a knock-off of the poem and turned it to completely focusing on education; the initial verses were “Ye Bacha Kaisa Bacha Hai – Na Parhta Hai Na Likhta Hai – Is Ka Zimedar Hai Koun”. So, I always had the knock-off in my mind and every time I think of it, it makes me sad.

Read: Our Indifference To Education is Failing Our Children

Ironically, according to the constitution of Pakistan, it is the state’s responsibility to provide free and compulsory education to the children between the ages of 5-16. This actually sounds funny, so, if the law states that every child of Pakistan is eligible for free and compulsory education then why do we see children not going to school and are seen doing labor work or begging? As per survey 22.6 Million children of Pakistan are out of schools. That is more than 10% of whole population of the country and almost half of the coming generation. What kind of future are we looking at?

Read: Education Emergency: These Statistics Should Have Every Pakistani Worried

So, where is the problem? Does the state lack the required financial resources or they lack the will to address the issue and properly implement the law? I know for a fact that the state has sufficient funds, well, we do see infrastructure projects worth billions being initiated every now and then, so we have the financial means, right? It seems like no one wants to address the issue. It’s funny, every time a sensitive topic is discussed, the mind makes you recall something extremely negative said by an influential person. Here goes “Agar larkian parhaingi tou ghar k kaam koun karayga”. Yes. This was a statement given once by a very well know politician.

I apologise for using the word “funny” repeatedly, but it has become the sort of situation for me where it’s so sad that you start laughing instead of crying.

I really wish and pray that our government makes time and puts some effort in giving these children a better life. Everyone talks about giving us a better Pakistan, please, give us a better Pakistan by giving us an educated and healthy upcoming generation. If all we are getting is child begging and child labor then how is it a better Pakistan?

Read: This Unsung Hero is Providing Free Education to Poor Children in Rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa