Peer-reviewed article
The Impact of Poverty on Child Labour in Kohat, Pakistan
Mazhar Islam, Yumna Tariq, Rafeed Ullah Khan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined the relationship between poverty and child labour in Kohat district, Pakistan, surveying 100 children working in shops, workshops, and markets. The research found that poverty is the major driver pushing children into labour, with most children working to support families unable to afford education. The study identifies lack of educational opportunities and weak enforcement of child protection laws as contributing factors, and recommends poverty reduction, free education access, community awareness, and stronger law enforcement.
Key points
- Poverty is identified as the major factor pushing children into labour in Kohat
- Most child labourers reported working to support their families due to financial problems
- Inability to afford education is a key reason children enter labour rather than attending school
- Weak enforcement of child protection laws contributes to the persistence of child labour
- Recommended solutions include poverty reduction strategies, free quality education, community awareness, and stronger implementation of laws
Limitations
The study uses a descriptive cross-sectional design with purposive sampling of 100 children, so it cannot establish causal relationships or generalize beyond Kohat district. The document does not report specific quantitative findings or compare outcomes across different interventions.
Abstract
The present study was conducted in Kohat district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the sole aim to find out the major cause of Child labour, particularly poverty, which is remains a serious social problem across the globe, particularly in underdeveloped areas such as Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 100 child labourers working in different sectors of Kohat, including shops, workshops, streets and markets. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents who were directly involved in child labour. The findings of the study show that poverty is a major factor pushing children into labour. Most respondents reported working to support their families due to financial problems and the inability to afford education. The study concludes that child labour in Kohat is deeply rooted in poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and weak enforcement of child protection laws. The research recommends poverty reduction strategies, improved access to free and quality education, community awareness programs and stronger implementation of child labour laws to address this issue effectively. Keywords: Child Labour, Poverty, Education, Social Problems, Kohat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Child Protection Laws