Cases of child abduction and sexual abuse in Pakistan increased by 8% in 2025, according to a report by the non-governmental organization Saahil.
The report documented a total of 3,630 incidents involving minors, including 1,924 girls (53%) and 1,625 boys (47%), with an additional 116 cases involving newborns. On average, more than nine children were sexually abused every day during the year.
Compared to 2024, the increase amounted to 266 additional cases. Breakdown of incidents included 1,107 abductions, 596 sexual assaults, 522 rapes, and 365 missing children.
Other cases reported were attempted rape (195), attempted sodomy (141), gang rape (130), additional gang sexual assaults (108), post-assault killings (58), and child marriages (53).
The report highlighted that children aged 11 to 15 face the highest risk, with boys in this age group more affected than girls.
Provincial data indicated that 73% of cases were reported from Punjab, 21% from Sindh, 4% from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 2% combined from Balochistan, Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Saahil noted that 82% of cases were registered with the police, reflecting active law enforcement engagement in addressing child abuse.