Recently UNICEF and Pakistan's Ministry of Health issued a very alarming report about our children. More than 40% of children in high risk areas have shown high lead levels in their blood. There is no safe level of lead in children's blood.

At a time when we are already dealing with HIV in children - coming into view again and again through multiple outbreaks - who really cares if children in Pakistan are also carrying a dangerous metal in their blood? Whether it is HIV or lead, the question should be the same: why are our children paying the price?

The reality is even more frightening when we look at the bigger picture. Already, nearly 40% of children in Pakistan are severely malnourished and have lower IQ levels. Malnutrition alone affects brain development. Add lead to their blood, and IQ drops further. Lead directly damages the developing brain. Children are the future of the nation, and if our next generations grow up with lower intellect and reduced cognitive capacity, is this not an........

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