How to Enrol a Working Child in a PBM School for Rehabilitation of Child Labour in Pakistan
Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal runs 160 schools for working children aged 8 to 14 with free books, uniform and a stipend. See who qualifies and how to enrol your child.
Short answer: Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) runs Schools for Rehabilitation of Child Labour (SRCL) for children aged 8 to 14 who work in hazardous jobs or are at risk of it. Education, books, uniform, shoes and medical checkups are free. PBM says each pupil gets a Rs 50 daily stipend and parents get Rs 300 a month. You apply to the PBM District Office with a Labour Department recommendation.
A child who breaks bricks, works in a mine or does domestic work often has no time for school. PBM has a programme for exactly this child. It keeps the school day short and the lessons informal, so the child can catch up on primary education.
We read the PBM projects page on 12 October 2026. We did not visit a school, and we could not confirm which districts have an open seat today. Always call the district office first.
What the SRCL programme gives a child
PBM says it runs 160 SRCL schools across Pakistan. Each pupil gets free education, books, a uniform, shoes, religious education and medical checkups, and PBM pays the child a daily stipend so the family does not lose the wage.
| Item | What PBM's page says |
|---|---|
| Age | 8 to 14 years |
| Schools | 160 SRCL schools |
| Class size | 120 students in each school |
| Stipend for the child | Rs 50 a day |
| Support for parents | Rs 300 a month |
| Primary course | Completed in 4 years, informal format |
| Free items | Books, uniform, shoes, religious education, medical checkups |
Why the programme exists
A child who works all day cannot sit in a normal class. A regular school also asks for fees, books and a uniform, which a poor family may not afford, and it expects the child to be at the desk when the family needs the wage. SRCL schools remove those barriers. The stipend replaces part of the lost income, and the informal format lets a child who has never studied start from the beginning and move up to a government school later.
Which children can enrol
A child can enrol if aged 8 to 14 and working, or at risk of working, in a hazardous place such as a brick kiln, a mine or a house as domestic help. PBM also asks for a verified recommendation from the Labour Department or the Ministry of Labour.
The page lists one more condition about bonded labour in the region, over at least five years. Its wording is unclear to us, so we do not rely on it. Ask the district office to explain it for your area.
If your child is not working but needs school fees help, a different PBM programme may fit. Our guide on Bait-ul-Mal education support for orphans explains it.
How to enrol your child
Get a verified recommendation from the Labour Department, then submit an application to the PBM District Office. PBM's page says the application must come with that recommendation, so start with the labour office.
- Visit the District Labour Office in your area, or the Ministry of Labour office, and explain the child's work.
- Ask for a verified recommendation letter for the child.
- Find your PBM District Office through the PBM website.
- Submit a written application with the recommendation, the child's B-Form or birth record, and your CNIC.
- Ask which SRCL school is near you and when a place opens.
- Keep a copy of the application and note the officer's name.
The page does not list the identity documents, so the B-Form and CNIC in step 4 are our suggestion. Confirm with the district office.
What the numbers show
PBM says 19,574 students have graduated from SRCL schools and 11,858 of them were admitted to government schools. That is about six in ten graduates moving to a regular school. These figures are PBM's own, and the page gives no date for them.
Each school holds 120 students, so a place is limited. Apply early and keep following up with the district office.
If you want to report a child worker instead
If you know a child who is working in a dangerous job, you can report it. Our guide on how to file a child labour complaint in Punjab shows the route. A report and an SRCL application can go together: one removes the child from the job and the other offers a school.
PBM also runs medical help and other programmes. See our guides on Bait-ul-Mal medical assistance and on free thalassaemia treatment for a family that needs health support too.
Common questions
What age can a child join an SRCL school?
PBM's page says 8 to 14 years. The child should be in, or at risk of, hazardous work.
Does PBM pay the family?
PBM says it gives each pupil Rs 50 a day and compensates parents with Rs 300 a month. Check with the district office how and when it is paid.
Is the education free?
Yes. The page lists free education, books, uniform, shoes, religious education and medical checkups.
Where do I submit the application?
At the PBM District Office, with a verified recommendation from the Labour Department or the Ministry of Labour.
How long is the course?
PBM says primary education is finished in 4 years in an informal format. Graduates may move to a government school.
Is there a school in every city?
No. PBM says it runs 160 SRCL schools nationwide, and we could not see a district-by-district list on the page.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal projects page and its home page at pbm.gov.pk on 12 October 2026. We could not confirm the list of districts, the document checklist or the dates of the graduate figures. PBM's terms can change.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
