Abstract
Although Islamic law and Pakistani law prohibit adoption it is still practiced in Pakistan. Islamic law does not allow change of paternity and emphasizes on the identity of biological parents. The article explores rules regarding adoption in Islamic law along with distinctions between legitimacy by acknowledgement and adoption, and fosterage and adoption. This discussion will be followed by Pakistani law and relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. The article argues that total prohibition does not mean that adoption is not practiced. Adoption does take place in Pakistan but is out of the domain of the law. Pakistan needs to regulate adoption to bring it in the domain of law. A state sponsored system of kafālah should be introduced where the child can be adopted with the agreement of biological parents but will not take the family name or inherit as it is the condition in Islamic law.