1.5 Million Pakistani Children Victims of Online Sexual Exploitation

Approximately 1.5 million children in Pakistan have been sexually exploited online, according to findings highlighted by a children's rights organization. PAHCHAAN, a Lahore-based child rights group, reported that around 44 percent of the documented abuse cases occurred entirely in digital spaces. Platforms such as Snapchat and WhatsApp were identified among the most frequently used settings for such exploitation. Mehek Naeem, director of PAHCHAAN, shared these alarming figures, underscoring the growing threat posed to children through social media and messaging applications.