Zara Shah, a 17‑year‑old gamer from Lahore, was lured into a grooming scam after a stranger approached her in an online game, according to the UNICEF report.
UNICEF’s global analysis counted 1.5 million cases of online sexual abuse involving children aged 12‑17 in Pakistan over the past year, with 85% of perpetrators known to victims and 71% of victims keeping silent for fear of stigma and family backlash.
The report highlighted that 44% of abuses were entirely online, most occurring on platforms like Snapchat and WhatsApp, and that none of the surveyed children reported abuse through formal channels such as police or helplines.
In response, Punjab’s provincial government passed a resolution this month banning children under 16 from using social media, a measure that digital‑rights activists argue is unenforceable and infringes on freedom of expression.
Legal experts warn that loopholes in existing child‑protection laws could undermine the ban, and NGOs are calling for stricter enforcement and judicial review as the ban faces potential court challenges.