Islamabad, September 18, 2026:
The National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), in collaboration with Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and National Lobbying Delegation (NLD), launched the “Situation Analysis of Brick Kiln Workers in Punjab and Sindh” at a ceremony held in Islamabad.
The event was attended by Minister of State for Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony Mr. Kheal Das Kohistani; Deputy Speaker, Sindh Assembly Mr. Anthony Naveed; Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Human Rights Mr. Rajvir Singh Sodha; Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Minorities Affairs Dr. Sham Sunder Advani; Parliamentary Secretary, Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Punjab Ms. Sonia Ashir; Secretary, Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department, Punjab Dr. Usman Ali Khan; Director General Labour Welfare, Punjab Ms. Syeda Kulsume Hai; Commissioner, Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution Mr. Hadi Bakhsh Kalhoro; Director SESSI Wasim Jamal, Director, Punjab Employees’ Social Security Institution Mr. Malik Farrukh; Chairperson, Child Protection and Welfare Bureau and MPA Ms. Sarah Ahmad; Chairman, One-Man Commission Dr. Shoaib Suddle; Special Assistant to the Chief Minister’s Public Complaint Cell, Sindh Mr. Veer Ji Kohli; Director, Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Punjab Mr. Muhammad Shahid Rana; and NCHR representative Mr. Manzoor Masih, along with representatives of NCRC, NCSW, Pakistan Workers Federation and other stakeholders. CWSA was represented by Associate Regional Director Ms. Misbah Khalid, among others.
The report highlights the major challenges faced by brick kiln workers and their families, including poverty, child labour, bonded labour, inadequate wages, limited access to social protection, gender inequality, caste-based discrimination, and barriers to education and essential services.
NCRC Chairperson Ms. Ayesha Raza expressed concern over children being exposed to labour and difficult working conditions at an early age, emphasizing that protecting children from labour and ensuring their access to education must remain a national priority.
CWSA Associate Regional Director Ms. Misbah Khalid emphasized that addressing the marginalization of brick kiln workers cannot be the responsibility of a single institution or organization. She stressed the need for collaboration among government institutions, civil society, workers and communities, supported by evidence and lived experiences.
Speakers emphasized that legislation alone is not sufficient and called for effective implementation of laws, workers’ registration, monitoring, institutional accountability and political will. Pakistan Workers Federation General Secretary Mr. Asad Mehmood called for moving beyond reports and commitments towards concrete action, accountability and measurable improvements in workers’ wages and working conditions.
Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Mr. Veer Ji Kohli, Ms. Syeda Kulsume Hai, Mr. Muhammad Shahid Rana and Mr. Rajvir Singh Sodha, among other speakers, also addressed the gathering and stressed the need to protect the rights of brick kiln workers, ensure effective implementation of laws, improve registration and social protection, and facilitate access to essential services.
The report provides an important evidence base for understanding the working and living conditions of brick kiln workers and for informing future policy-making, legislation and targeted interventions in Punjab and Sindh.
Concluding the event, Ms. Fiza Hussain, Program Coordinator, CWSA, called for stronger coordination among government departments, human rights institutions, labour organizations, civil society, employers and affected communities to ensure that brick kiln workers enjoy their fundamental rights and that children are protected from labour and provided meaningful opportunities for education and a dignified future.
