Street Children In Pakistan

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The longer-term changes and impact of project interventions greatly depend on the continuation and extension in the coverage of services in times to come. The overall expected impacts of these services will include minimization and eradication of drug abuse culture in street children and finally integration of these children in the society as normal citizens. On one hand this will result in more positively oriented and productive children, playing their due role in uplift of their families and society in general. The empowerment and benefits of staying in shelter for extended periods of time lead to positive outcomes in several life areas including increased self-esteem and reduced symptoms and feelings of depression. Getting families off the…show more content…
Most of Pakistan's street children live in the crowded, southern city of Karachi. Past efforts have been initiated by UNICEF and other NGOs to assist children in need through various programs and rehabilitation centers; however, the situation remains as a prominent socio-economic issue in Pakistan during the 21st century. Many of the shelters are left abandoned due to lack of resources and others have considerable congestion and overcrowding, leading to a lack of sleeping space and limited food and facilities. Most organizations working with street children in Pakistan are plagued by financial problems, they depend largely on donor funding which is notoriously uncertain and whilst funding is often available for initial capital development, donors may refuse to take care of running costs. These financial factors threaten the survival of some organizations as sustaining adequate services depends on external…show more content…
It is reported that the growing number of street children involved in this activity. There has been a significant rise in the number of street children, particularly in Karachi. It is estimated that more than 1.3 million street children currently exist in the country. What does seem clear, however, is that street children are the extreme indicator of deteriorating social capital and social exclusion. While the immediate factors responsible for their condition are unique for each child, they generally represent some combination of low family income, lack of housing, failure in school, family neglect and abuse, armed conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics. The problem that Pakistan confronts is how to maintain levels of welfare support within an increasingly unstable economic climate in context of declining expenditure and to respond effectively to growing emerging needs of street and other vulnerable groups of children together with increasing migration to the capital city of Sindh, Karachi. This is cause for

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