Poverty remains one of the most powerful forces shaping the lives of children in Pakistan. For millions of families struggling to meet basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare, every day is a difficult balancing act. When household income is limited and families are large, parents are often forced to make painful decisions about how to ensure the survival and future of their children.

In such circumstances, sending a child to an orphanage or care institution is sometimes seen as a practical solution rather than a choice. Many parents believe that institutions will provide their children with food, shelter, and education that they themselves cannot afford.

Yet this reality raises an uncomfortable question: are orphanages really the answer to poverty?

A care institution or orphanage can never replace a family. Decades of research around the world have shown that children need family environments for their emotional, psychological, and social development. Institutions may provide shelter, food, and schooling, but they cannot offer the consistent affection, attachment, and sense of belonging that a family provides.

In Pakistan, the situation of children living in orphanages is often misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, most children in orphanages are not actually orphans. Various estimates and studies suggest that more than 80 per cent of children living in care institutions have at least one living parent. These children are placed in institutions not because they have lost their families, but because their families are struggling with poverty and other socio-economic pressures.

If children who are placed in orphanages actually have families, why is institutional care often presented as the default solution, rather than providing support that allows them to remain safely and securely in their homes?

If children who are placed in orphanages actually have families, why is institutional care often presented as the default solution, rather than providing support that allows them to remain safely and securely in their homes?

Two major factors often push families towards institutional care: poverty and large family size. When parents are unable to meet the basic needs of all their children, sending one or more of them to an orphanage is sometimes seen as a survival strategy. In many cases, institutions promise education, food, and accommodation, which can appear attractive to families with very limited resources.

Another visible pattern in Pakistan is that most children in orphanages are boys, while girls usually remain at home with their families, and in many cases work as domestic workers with their mothers in relatively wealthy neighbourhoods. Cultural norms and safety concerns often discourage families from sending girls to institutions, while boys are perceived as more mobile and therefore more likely to be placed in residential facilities.

A serious concern is that many orphanages in Pakistan operate without adequate government regulation or oversight. The absence of a strong regulatory framework creates space for misuse and exploitation. Without proper monitoring, it becomes difficult to ensure that children are being protected and that institutions are operating in the best interests of the child.

The lack of regulation has also led to serious allegations and reported cases of child trafficking linked to some institutions. In recent years, high-profile investigations have highlighted these risks. Notable social worker Sarim Burney of the Sarim Burney Trust and Mubina Qasim Agboatwala of HOPE NGO were arrested and investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) following complaints raised by the United States authorities regarding alleged irregularities related to child adoption and trafficking. Such incidents raise serious questions about the transparency and accountability of some childcare institutions.

There isn’t formal research documenting a measurable seasonal increase in orphanage populations during Ramadan, but there is clear evidence that Ramadan donation appeals frequently centre on orphan sponsorship and care. Many organisations explicitly call for zakat and sadaqat contributions to support orphans and orphan programmes during Ramadan, for example, sponsoring orphaned students or providing meals and care throughout the holy month.

This raises an important question: if children who are placed in orphanages actually have families, why is institutional care often presented as the default solution, rather than providing support that allows them to remain safely and securely in their homes?

The harmful effects of institutionalisation on children are well documented. Children growing up in institutions often face challenges related to emotional development, attachment, and social integration. With high child-to-staff ratios, even well-run institutions struggle to provide the individualised care and stable relationships that families naturally offer.

© The Friday Times