Poverty remains one of the most powerful forces shaping the lives of children in Pakistan. For millions of families struggling to meet basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare, every day is a difficult balancing act. When household income is limited and families are large, parents are often forced to make painful decisions about how to ensure the survival and future of their children.

In such circumstances, sending a child to an orphanage or care institution is sometimes seen as a practical solution rather than a choice. Many parents believe that institutions will provide their children with food, shelter, and education that they themselves cannot afford.

Yet this reality raises an uncomfortable question: are orphanages really the answer to poverty?

A care institution or orphanage can never replace a family. Decades of research around the world have shown that children need family environments for their emotional, psychological, and social development. Institutions may provide shelter, food, and schooling, but they cannot offer the consistent affection, attachment, and sense of belonging that a family provides.

In Pakistan, the situation of children living in orphanages is often misunderstood. Contrary to........

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