Tears of the golden child: social media exposes child exploitation in Bahria Town

RAWALPINDI: A disturbing video circulating on social media has drawn widespread condemnation after showing a young boy, estimated to be around five or six years old, standing alone in the blistering sun near the Clock Tower in Bahria Town Phase 7. The child was covered in gold‑coloured makeup, visibly distressed and tearful as intense sunlight bore down on him.

In footage shared by an Instagram page called Let’s Save Welfare, a young woman records the child, saying: “Ye dekhain, ye masoom bacha… ye aaj teesra din hai, isko kinhnay yahan dhoop mein khara kiya hota hai. Ro ro ke behaal hogaya hai. Itni taiz dhoop ho chuki hai. Aur isko yahan golden makeup kar ke khara kar diya hai,” suggesting that the child had been made to stand in the sun for days and questioning his guardians.

At one point in the video, the teenager filming speaks to another slightly older boy who enters the frame and claims the young child is with him. When asked why the boy was left standing there and where his mother is, the older boy runs away. A girl present becomes agitated when questioned and tells the child to go call his mamoo (mother’s brother), at which point the video cuts off.

In a statement posted to the Let’s Save Welfare Instagram page, the woman who recorded the video described the scene as “a clear case of child abuse” and urged authorities to intervene. She wrote that the child is forced to stand from morning until night in extreme heat near the Clock Tower, despite her previous warnings to “handlers,” and that security personnel had not taken action when the situation was reported.

“Forcing children to stand in extreme heat while wearing heavy makeup can cause severe dehydration, skin damage, and long‑term health issues. It is devastating to see this happening so frequently now,” the statement said. She called on the public to report similar incidents and urged people not to give money, warning that doing so encourages exploitation.

She also criticised the Bahria Town management and security, saying: “Shame on Bahria Town management and security for turning a blind eye to child abuse on their premises.”

The video has prompted strong reactions online, with many users expressing shock, anger, and concern for the child’s welfare. Several commentators have echoed the poster’s concerns about child exploitation, dehydration, and long‑term health risks associated with prolonged sun exposure and heavy makeup.

Many users also criticised the lack of response from local security authorities, questioning how such a situation could occur in a high‑profile residential area like Bahria Town.

Child exploitation in public spaces, sometimes linked to forced begging or performance, has been a recurring issue in parts of Pakistan, drawing periodic public and legal scrutiny. Experts have warned that children left in direct sunlight for extended periods are at risk of dehydration, heatstroke, and other serious health complications.

The video’s traction underscores growing public intolerance toward child mistreatment and calls for accountability from both authorities and community members.