Gone with the wind

Despite government’s efforts missing children issue still not resolved

Karachi: Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, has been grappling with the issue of missing children for a long time. Despite various efforts made by the government and non-government organisations, the problem persists and is becoming more widespread with each passing day.

According to recent statistics, the number of missing children in the city has increased alarmingly, and the authorities seem to be struggling to keep up with the situation.

In recent months, reports of children going missing, have been rising, causing widespread panic and concern among parents and the general public. As per the data provided by a non-governmental organisation, around 1,271 children had been reported missing in 2021-2022, of which only 88 had been recovered. The report also reveals that the majority of these children belong to low-income families and are aged between 11 and 15 years old.

One of the major reasons for the increasing number of missing children is poverty. Many families in Karachi are living below the poverty line, and the children from such families are more vulnerable to exploitation and kidnapping. They are often targeted by criminal gangs that force them into labour, begging or trafficking. In some cases, the children are taken away by family members who want to extract money from their relatives in exchange for their safe return.

In addition to kidnapping, Karachi is also dealing with an increase in the number of missing children who have fled their homes. According to recent statistics, a large number of missing children are believed to have run away.

The reasons behind children running away in Karachi are complex and varied. Some children do so due to abuse and neglect at home, while others do so due to poverty, a lack of education, or a difficult family situation. In some cases, the children are lured away by criminal gangs that promise them a better life but end up exploiting them for labour, begging, or trafficking.

According to Zeenia, a social worker, children run away for a variety of reasons, including poverty, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, forced labour, and exploitation. ”Shelter and security are the most important things for a child. Children in low-income families are often neglected, abused, or forced to work at a young age. This exposes them to various forms of exploitation, whether by the employer or a third party with access,” she noted.

As a result, she stated that these children develop feelings of insecurity, which compels them to escape in search of a better life and end up either in the hands of street gangs, the beggar mafia, or child traffickers. These children are then trafficked to the Middle East or Europe, for illegal sport or sex trade, or they engage in juvenile crime or begging.

She went on to say that another reason for the rise in the number of missing children is the growing population. ”Many women, particularly those from low-income families, have multiple children who are then neglected and/or exploited within the household, usually by a close relative,” the social worker said, adding, ”These children end up seeking refuge by running away.”

She also claimed that a large number of such cases go unreported because families are unwilling to contact law enforcement agencies due to mistrust or social stigma, and the police are hesitant to file a missing persons’ report.

Zeenia asserted that curbing the rise in missing children cases should be a collaborative effort because civil society can only do so much in raising public awareness, and it is up to lawmakers to enact and implement effective policies to prevent these occurrences in the first place.

”International law dictates that authorities must file a complaint for a missing person and investigate it on an urgent basis. The first 48 hours are always critical in ascertaining whether the missing person was kidnapped or fled on their own accord. In the case of minors, recovery is even more critical because only then can it be determined whether the child should be returned to their legal guardian or kept in the care of the state,” she explained.

To tackle this issue, measures should be taken to prevent children from running away from their homes in the first place. This can be achieved by providing support to families in need and ensuring that the children receive an education and have access to basic amenities such as food, shelter, and healthcare.

Another reason for the high number of missing children is the lack of proper law enforcement measures. Despite having various government and non-government organisations working on the issue, the authorities have failed to provide adequate protection to the children, making it easier for the kidnappers to operate with impunity. In many cases, the police are not trained to handle such cases, and the investigation process is often slow and ineffective. This, in turn, makes it harder for the parents to find their missing children.

Moreover, the social stigma attached to missing children is another hindrance in the efforts to address the issue. Many families do not come forward to report their children missing, fearing that they will be judged and stigmatised by society. This makes it difficult for the authorities to keep track of the actual number of missing children and to locate them.

To address the issue, the government and civil society organisations must collaborate and implement effective solutions. One of the most crucial steps is to improve the law enforcement system and provide proper training to the police on how to handle cases of missing children. The police should also be equipped with modern technology and resources to assist them in their investigations.

Additionally, the government should launch awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of missing children and the steps they can take to protect them. These campaigns should also target the families of missing children and provide them with psychological support and counseling services.

Furthermore, the government should provide financial support to the families of missing children to help them cope with the situation. This will also reduce the incentive for the kidnappers to target children from low-income families.

In conclusion, the issue of missing children in Karachi is a growing concern that needs to be addressed urgently. The government and civil society organisations must collaborate to put effective measures in place to protect children and ensure that they are not exploited, forced into labor, or trafficked. Only by working together can we hope to curb this alarming trend and put an end to the suffering of the families of missing children in Karachi.