An estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan experienced online sexual exploitation over the course of a year, according to a recent report by the United Nations children’s agency. The findings highlight the growing risk faced by young internet users in the country, where digital access continues to expand rapidly.

The report draws attention to the case of a 17-year-old girl, identified as Zara Shah to protect her privacy, who was targeted by a stranger while playing an online computer game. The individual initially posed as a friend, then pressured her for explicit images and threatened to disclose their interactions to her family when she refused.

Data from the UNICEF report reveals that approximately 85% of perpetrators were known to the victims, whose ages ranged from 12 to 17. Interactions often began as seemingly innocuous conversations during gaming sessions or through promises of gifts, money, or romantic attention. The report’s lead author, Daniel Kardefelt, noted that offenders frequently build trust over several months by gathering personal information from social media profiles.

In Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country with conservative social norms, victims remain overwhelmingly silent. The report found that 71% of abused children did not disclose their experiences to anyone, and none had reported the incidents through formal channels such as police, helplines, or social workers. The reluctance to come forward is primarily driven by fears of social stigma, shame, and concerns about negative reactions from family and community.

Mehek Naeem, director of PAHCHAAN, a children’s rights organization based in Lahore, said about 44% of the abuses occurred entirely online, with platforms like Snapchat and WhatsApp cited as common spaces where exploitation takes place. She emphasized that girls face elevated risks of sexual extortion, which can lead to severe consequences including restrictions on their freedom of movement and withdrawal from education.

For Zara, the threat of familial backlash was a deterrent to speaking out about her ordeal. “I could have been stopped from going to school or leaving the house altogether,” she said. “Staying quiet felt like the better option than speaking up. But anxiety kills me every day.”

UNICEF estimates that about 74% of Pakistani children aged 12 to 17 are active internet users, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced online safety measures. The report calls for increased awareness, robust support systems, and effective prevention strategies to address the pervasive issue of online child sexual exploitation in the country.