The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has warned that online sexual abuse of children in Pakistan remains seriously underreported, with weak coordination between institutions and inadequate safeguards leaving many cases unaddressed. In its October 2026 report, covered by The Express Tribune, the commission argues that the problem should not be treated only as a cybercrime issue, but as a violation of children's rights, dignity and safety.

A pattern hidden by underreporting

The commission points to a 2025 case in Muzaffargarh, in which at least 50 children, including some aged six or younger, were allegedly exploited through an international network. It also cites figures from the United States-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showing that reports of suspected child sexual abuse material linked to Pakistan passed two million in 2021. The HRCP stresses that those are reports of suspected online activity, not a count of individual victims. A separate report launched in September by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child with UNICEF Pakistan estimated that about 1.5 million internet-using Pakistani children aged 12 to 17 experienced online sexual exploitation and abuse within a single year.

What the HRCP wants changed

The commission calls for better coordination between child protection agencies, police, cybercrime investigators, prosecutors and courts, so that investigations are stronger and perpetrators are held to account. It also says affected children need legal help, psychological counselling and rehabilitation, and that awareness campaigns alone will not fix the problem without stronger protection systems, institutional accountability and greater responsibility from digital platforms.

Sources: The Express Tribune via ANI and IANS via Hi India.