Its been more than a decade that Pakistan passed laws greatly limiting child labor and indentured servitude but those laws are generally ignored, and some 16 million children, aged four to fourteen, keep the country’s factories and garages operating, often working in brutal and squalid conditions.

Advertisement in many countries around the world help in carving out a better image of the nation.Problem with MNCs is that most of them are driven by monetary benefits and Zong in Pakistan is no exception. Responsible MNCs should play their part to discourage the trend both directly and indirectly. I was shocked to see the other day a television advertisement of Zong in which a chota (child) is seen doing some rescue work against the massive power cuts in the country which is utter violation of labor laws in the country. Children are our future hope and we do not want to see them ending up in garages due to want of opportunities or running after power gadgets to end darkness Mobile operators are supposed to adhere to CSR ethics. Why Zong is projecting abominable child labor is beyond any logical understanding. Why state functionaries are silent on this flagrant disregard to Pakistani laws?

Zong these days is seen promoting child labor in the garb of its new package. A poverty ridden dumb boy is seen in its latest advertisement running wildly on a phone call.If Zong cannot contribute effectively for children plight in this country, least it could do is not to project country’s image in a bad light.

- Rabia Kamaal, Rawalpindi

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