ISLAMABAD - Pakistan faces innumerable problems pertaining to the health of children, as every year out of 4,446,000 children 400,000 die in the country, before reaching the age of five. The facts were revealed on Wednesday in a report titled 'The State of Pakistans Children 2008" launched by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC). The seven chapters of report, which include violence against children, education, health, juvenile justice, child labour etc revealed that in each section, the situation of children and their rights, continue to receive low priority both by the government and the civil society. Unfortunately, each year the situation appears grimmer, as the report revealed that there is a little improvement of positive progress regarding child rights. Highlighting the challenges faced by the Pakistani children regarding health sector, the report informed that around 10.5 million of children in the country lack access to basic health facilities. About Education sector, the report quoted the figures of National Education Census (2005-06) saying that almost 20 per cent of Pakistani children lack educational facilities. But Rs 6508.783 million Public Sector Development Programme PSDP 2007-2008 does not convey any plans to deal with these missing facilities, it added. It also revealed that the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009 has ranked Pakistan 117 out of 134 countries in terms of quality of primary education. An estimated 35 to 40 per cent children of school going age are out of school or cannot access to schooling, it added. The issues of children have increased manifolds in 2008 due to the increasing use of children in militancy. Report highlighted that in conflict-ridden Swat, militants torched over 200 schools, out of which 95 per cent were girls schools. Further adding that the government did not take any action against this vital loss and deprived over 50,000 students of their fundamental right to education. It quoted the figures of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA), according to which as many as 6, 780 children were victimised in Pakistan in last year, including 4,251 boys and 2,529 of girls. It also disclosed that the situation of violence against children can be judged from the fact that as many as 532 children committed suicide in Pakistan in 2008. Madadgaar Helpline Office, a sister concern of the LHRLA, alone provided services to 6,780 cases of violence during last year. According to details, 56 children were brutally murdered in Karachi in 2008, 50 girls become victims of sexual violence, 123 children were physical tortured, 96 becomes victim of honour killing, 29 children were tortured at police stations, 75 became victims of human trafficking, 32 were kidnapped, 28 were forcibly married and as many as 71 children went missing. The report highlighted plight of street children with available statistic of the Senate Standing Committee stating that there are as much as 1,50,000 street children all over the country. While speaking at the launching ceremony, Executive Director Qindeel Shujaat said that every child should be provided with his/her basic human rights. At the same time, the economic crunch, ongoing war on terror and education under attack foresees increase in child labour, which already ranges between 10 and 12 million mark, he added. Giving the highlights of the yearly Report Manager Media and Creative Unit Fa0zila Gulrez disclosed that the state of Pakistans children continue to be grim and sad. She said that Pakistan has enacted laws both at the national and provincial levels to protect children and yet children are being denied their fundamental rights to education, safety and security, quality and proper health care and recreation among many other basic rights. While speaking on the occasion, Konstantin Obolensky, Charge d Affairs a.e., Embassy of Switzerland, said that the State of Pakistan Childrens 2008 report is probably the most comprehensive report on the situation of children in the country. Dr.Sissel Volan, Minister Counsellor Development, Royal Norwegian Embassy said that Pakistan is facing enormous challenges to fulfill the rights of its children.