UNICEF warns 1.5 million Pakistani children face online sexual abuse

Islamabad: UNICEF has warned that 1.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk of online sexual exploitation, according to reports by India Today and Malay Mail. The Express Tribune reported the same concern in Pakistan, saying online grooming puts children at risk. Onlinekhabar English also carried the figure.

The initial reports did not include details of how the estimate was reached or which online platforms are involved. India Today attributed the warning to UNICEF and said millions of Pakistani children live in fear of online abuse. Malay Mail headlined its story with the words "I live in fear" and cited the same figure. Onlinekhabar English reported that 1.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk of online sexual exploitation.

The Express Tribune's report said online grooming is placing Pakistani children at risk, but its full text was not available at the time of writing. None of the reports included an immediate response from the government of Pakistan, the Federal Investigation Agency or the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

Online grooming typically involves an adult building a relationship with a child through social media, messaging apps or online games before exploiting or abusing them. UNICEF has previously urged governments, technology companies and parents to strengthen safeguards for children on the internet. The warning is the latest in a series of global alerts from the agency about child safety in digital spaces.

The warning comes as internet access and smartphone use among children in Pakistan continue to grow, increasing their exposure to social media and chat platforms. Pakistan has a large youth population, and internet penetration has expanded rapidly in recent years, though official data on children's online activity remains limited.

The reports did not clarify whether the 1.5 million figure refers only to children contacted by strangers, those exposed to abusive material, or victims whose abuse was recorded and shared. They also gave no breakdown by age, gender or province. No statement from Pakistani authorities was included in the initial coverage. Separately, Aaj News reported a polio vaccination campaign targeting 31 million children, but that campaign is unrelated to the online safety warning.