Angel, wife who care for Pakistan's 'bastard' babies

 LONDON: Almost half of all babies in Britain are born outside marriage, official figures have revealed.

The rate of 46 per cent for the first three months of this year is the highest ever for England and Wales.

The proportion of newborns with unmarried parents has risen by more than 50 per cent since 1991.

The government reports four out of 10 babies born in the U.S. in 2007 were born to unwed mothers.

The rate has doubled since 1980, and that's raising some serious concerns.

Tiere England, 21, loves her baby girl -- and like many women her age she does not have a husband.

"If it happens it happens. I'm not planning on it.or excited about it," England said.

Many people leave “unwanted” babies in cradles placed outside some 320 Edhi Centres across Pakistan. “In recent years, however, the trend has changed. People are also getting rid of their babies due to absolute poverty, and place them in Edhi cradles after they are born,” Bilquees said.

Another discernable trend noticed by her is that many babies are thrown into Edhi cradles after they are killed, despite the fervent appeal of the Edhis to instead hand them over to the foundation. Similarly, children born out of wedlock in Pakistan are abandoned by single mothers in garbage dumps and deserted areas.