Islamabad’s recent crackdown on a sinister cybercrime ring has exposed the alarming rise in child sexual exploitation across Pakistan, both in digital realms and everyday life. The Federal Investigation Agency’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency dismantled a blackmail operation targeting vulnerable minors, arresting a key suspect with over 600 obscene videos in possession.
This disturbing revelation, highlighted in a major report, underscores how predators thrive unchecked on platforms accessible to children and criminals alike. Leading newspaper The Express Tribune’s editorial board voiced deep concerns, questioning the government’s child protection measures and parents’ role in spotting danger signs.
‘Where are the clear answers to detecting more such networks?’ the editorial demanded, noting a frustrating lack of transparency. Beyond cyberspace, physical abuse remains rampant, with convictions elusive even in tangible cases—online offenders evade capture by masking identities effortlessly.
Global peers restrict social media for minors or embed digital safety in curricula, yet Pakistan leans heavily on individual vigilance. A September 2025 Sahil report revealed a 20% spike in child sexual abuse cases from January to June 2025, totaling 1,956 incidents including abductions, missing children, assaults, and forced marriages.
Social stigma, revenge fears, and weak law enforcement deter reporting, trapping families in silence amid fears of further trauma. While awareness campaigns boost disclosures, socioeconomic woes like poverty and unemployment heighten risks, amplified by unchecked online exposure.
Experts call for a robust, holistic government strategy to shield the young, moving beyond personal caution to systemic safeguards.