CHITRAL, Oct 3, 2025:
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Imran Khan has claimed that Upper Chitral has no record of child labour or forced labour, making it a model district for the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He chaired a meeting of the District Vigilance Committee (DVC) at the DC Office attended by the District Police Officer, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters, District Social Welfare Officer, Additional Labour Inspector, and other committee members.
The committee reviewed the situation of child labour, bonded labour, and human trafficking in the district. Officials informed the meeting that Upper Chitral has remained free from child labour and forced work since its inception, and that beggary is also non-existent in the area.
They attributed this positive situation to strong community values, effective coordination among government departments, and continued administrative vigilance.
Deputy Commissioner Imran Khan praised the Social Welfare and Labour Departments for their proactive efforts in maintaining the district’s child-labour-free status. He directed all departments to continue close monitoring and public awareness initiatives to ensure that the district retains its exemplary position in protecting children’s rights.
“Upper Chitral stands out because of the collective commitment of its people and institutions. We will keep working to ensure that every child in the district enjoys education, dignity, and a safe environment.”
The meeting concluded with participants pledging to strengthen cooperation among departments, enhance public awareness, and enforce child protection and labour laws across Upper Chitral.
The Deputy Commissioner’s claim that there is no child labour in his district is nothing short of turning a blind eye to a critical issue that demands immediate attention.
Instead of making baseless claims, perhaps he should send his Additional Assistant Commissioners (ACs) out into the real world.
A quick visit to any nearby bus Ada, where underage children are working as motor mechanics, the filthy chai hotels in Booni’s dusty bazar, where kids can be seen serving tea, or even the underage child labourers holding the polo sticks for the so-called polo players of the Booni-walas, would reveal the harsh reality of child labour in plain sight.
This is not rocket science – just a simple case of doing your job, something your administration seems to be failing at miserably, Mr Deputy Commissioner!
Claims made without evidence are not only irresponsible, they are outright dangerous. Denying the very existence of child exploitation only deepens the problem.
And the sarcastic remark by a female AAC about the Booni administration not having a “khazana of Qaroon” to address the needs of the people – made during her visit to Torkhow, no less – is both a feeble excuse and an insult.
It is as if she is channeling the arrogance of a ruler, not a tiny additional AC. If these ACs were not too busy checking grocery prices and offering snide comments, perhaps they could focus on real issues that actually affect the people.
The Deputy Commissioner and his team need to stop hiding behind weak excuses and face the reality of child labour head-on. It is time for action, not denial, Mr Muhammad Imran Khan.
Frankly, I’m shocked – this is the last place I expected such blind neglect. One would hope you would rein in your subordinates, these self-important baboos who seem to think they are above serving the masses. But instead, they continue to act as though they are the noori creatures, not the tiny bureaucrats they really are.