ISLAMABAD: Child Rights Movement (CRM) Pakistan, a coalition of more than 180 civil society organisations working for the protection of children rights in Pakistan, has pointed out that only 6 percent of the total public expenditure is spent for child-specific purposes, which mainly include education, health programmes and social welfare.
CRM has launched a report on taxation system in Pakistan and its impact on the lives of children. CRM coordinator Habiba Salman while addressing the participants said that under Article 25-A, of the constitution of Pakistan, the state is responsible to provide free and compulsory education to all the children of age 5 to 16.
Moreover, the Government of Pakistan is also a party to several international conventions and declarations including the UNCRC, MDGs and EFA, whereby the government has committed to take steps to achieve certain milestones on several key social indicators of health, education and poverty.
Children (18 years and below) comprise around 48 percent of the total population of Pakistan whereas there are no separate budgetary allocation lines or accounting parts for children CRM coordinator also said.
Arshad Mahmood, Director Advocacy and Child Rights Governance said that this year the world is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) including Pakistan.
Internews
