IT was February 2017 when the provincial assembly passed a bill which outlawed corporal punishments, including slapping, smacking, kicking, scratching, throwing, biting,pinching,burning, scaldingand spanking a child anywhere and under any circumstances, be they formal or informal.

The same is the law in many African, European and Asian countries where corporal punishment is banned. There are only a few countries that still legalise punishing children, and, surprisingly, 90 per cent children lived in such countries, according to Human Rights Watch report related to 2014.

The law in Pakistan provides protection to children against severe punishments, however, despite these laws, many children still face beatings and punishments every day because teachers claim that they punish in order to improve a child`s learning.

The fact is that this concept is totally contradictory to research which says punishing a child underpins aggression, antisocial behaviour, mental health problems, such as depression, and diminished moral internalisation.

On the contrary, if children are surrounded by love and affection, their mental wellbeing improves, they become physically healthier, fearless, and their brain development and memory increases.

Punishment can never enhance a child`s skills and abilities. On the contrary, it only leaves a negative impact on children, the scars of which can never really be healed.

AtifHussain Naushahro Feroze