In the last few days, I have started to become interested in a topic that is not openly talked about here in Karachi…prostitution, specifically child prostitution. This topic sparked my attention when my supervisor initially suggested I work with her on her HIV/AIDS project. This didn’t pan through as I was more interested in maternal child health. However, I started to ask myself, “HIV/AIDS in Pakistan? I then became interested in learning more about this issue after watching a documentary on boy prostitution in Pakistan a week ago. Besides the other projects I am involved in as an Intern, I have taken up this issue as a personal side research project.

**Warning, the contents of this blog is heart-breaking and not suitable for young adults**

Sahil, a non-government organization in Pakistan which works for the protection of children against physical abuse, conducted a survey on child prostitution in Islamabad (capital city of Pakistan), Lahore and Rawalpindi in 2006. The sample consisted of 74 male prostitutes from these three cities. The respondents were divided into two groups: 1) below 12 years of age and 2) between 13-18 years of age. Data collection was divided into two phases: 1) in-depth interviews and 2) in-depth analysis of each case. F.Y.I: this survey is not a research nor has it been published. It was reported in The Peninsula (Qatar’s daily newspaper) and Dawn (Pakistan’s daily newspaper).The sample size was not randomly selected and does not include female prostitutes (biased?). The survey also does not indicate the use of statistical analysis to interpret the findings. However you interpret the findings, here are the results:

- 74% of the respondents were undergraduates
- Their monthly income ranged between Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000-this is above the Pakistani definition of the poverty line
- 44% had their own businesses
- 51% of the respondents were sexually abused when they were approximately 12 years of age (highly unlikely that they would have developed a sexual preference at that age)
- 95% were previously sexually abused by their close relatives, friends or teachers: 12% were teachers, 13% close relatives, and 27% cousins. The rest were random individuals.
- 20 out of 74 respondent said that they had personally abused other children
- 100% of the respondents said they were currently working as pimps to facilitate other children into prostitution.

Prostitution, including child prostitution, is common in any urban area you visit across the globe -whether it be Thailand, Amsterdam, Bangkok or Lahore. This type of organization knows no religion, no ethnicity, no class and no gender. This lucrative trade is a taboo in almost every culture, with Pakistan being no exception. Even though it is not a secret anymore, many local Karachities do not wish to talk about prostitution. No one can tell me why prostitution actually exists. Why is prostitution spreading like wildfire? Are we doing anything to address this crisis? What are the grassroot problems? Upon expressing my interest with this topic, my colleagues have urged me to stop asking questions and to drop this interest of mine. For those who know me, know that that I am slightly stubborn. Not to worry, I will be safe and professional =)

Stay tuned more to come….