‘I live in fear’: 1.5 million Pakistani children sexually exploited online

With around 74% of children ages 12 to 17 in Pakistan estimated by UNICEF to be internet users, concerns over online safety are growing as their access to digital platforms expands. | REUTERS

AFP-Jiji

Sep 21, 2026

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani teenager Zara Shah was targeted by a stranger while playing a computer game, drawn into a conversation that would expose her to terrifying online sexual exploitation.

Zara, whose name has been changed for safety reasons, is one of an estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan who experienced online sexual abuse in one year, according to a report published by the U.N. children’s agency this month.

“We started chatting while playing an online game, and he began acting like a friend. Later, he wanted to meet and, after, started asking me for nudes,” 17-year-old Shah said.

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