Around 1.5 million internet-using children in Pakistan experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year, according to a study published by UNICEF, ECPAT International and INTERPOL in September 2026. The findings highlight growing concerns about online safety, as artificial intelligence and social media create new risks for children.
The study, Disrupting Harm in Pakistan, found that in 85% of reported incidents, the alleged perpetrator was someone the child already knew, while social media accounted for 44% of reported cases. More than half of the children who experienced online sexual exploitation or abuse did not tell anyone, and none of those surveyed reported their experiences through formal channels such as helplines, social workers or police.
The report also highlighted gaps in Pakistan’s child-protection system, including the lack of a legal requirement for child forensic interviews to be systematically conducted by specially trained professionals. The findings underline the need for confidential reporting mechanisms, trained investigators and accessible support services to protect children from online abuse and further trauma.
