3,090 children reported missing in 2010: survey

The cases of missing children continue to rise in Karachi in 2010. Almost 3,090 children were reported missing at about 100 police stations in 18 towns of Karachi city in 2010, according to the annual report on missing children released by the child and women rights NGO, Roshni Helpline.
Out of the total missing 80 % (2472) were boys and 20 % (618) were girls. Out of these a large portion 78% of the children belonged to the age group of 12 and 18, while remaining 22% associated to the age group below 12 years. About 34% of missing children were studying at both formal schools and Madrassas, 30% were only the students of Madrassas while remaining 26% children were the drop out of a school or Madrassa.
"Missing is a step that happens first and then all crimes ie physical, sexual exploitation and abuse, forced labour and sexual abuse and murder of children are committed after that, so missing of children should be taken seriously," said Muhammad Ali, President Roshni Helpline
The rate of recovery of missing children remains to 2%. A majority of cases reported recovered are the cases of delayed recovery. In some cases children are recovered after a month or above. The magnitude of problems that the cities like Karachi face makes the whole city a high alert area for children. However, there are areas where more cases of missing of children are reported than other areas. According to the data collected, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Baldia and Korangi Towns were high alert areas for children in 2010. For example, Baldia Town has three police stations and in one year over 100 cases were reported. In Gulshan-e-Iqbal, which has 8 police stations, a total 300 cases were reported over the span of 12 months. Korangi Town is another high alert town where a total 144 cases were reported in three police stations in a year.
According to the RH's assessment a majority of children's running away from their homes is because of poverty, physical, sexual and emotional violence at home and schools or Madrassas and the economic and financial constraints faced by the family.
The data has substantiated this information by telling that 80% of either missing or runaway children belonged to the middle or lower socio-economic structure of the society. A majority of these cases were reported from middle or low-income areas of Karachi such as, Korangi Town, Landhi Town, Orangi Town, Baldia Town and Lyari Town.-PR