Developments - Page 22

Nadra launches platform to track sex offenders in Pakistan

Nadra, the National Database and Registration Authority, has created the National Sex Offenders Registry (NSOR) platform, which includes an SMS verification service to aid in the identification and monitoring of individuals who have been convicted of sexual offenses against children and women . The database is connected to various law enforcement agencies and provincial governments to ensure that updates are…

Three school education depts merged into one authority

LAHORE: The Punjab government on 14 June 2024 established the Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training and Assessments Authority (PECTAA) after merger of three departments -Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB), Quaid-i Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED) and Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) with a view to reform school education. Earlier, the…

13% hike in education budget by Punjab Government

LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced a significant increase of 13 per…

KP Govt To Launch Taleem Card

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch the ‘Taleem Card’…

Panel formed to ensure birth registration

The Punjab government on 2nd April 2024 formed a committee to prepare recommendations to ensure the registration of children at the time of birth. The committee will comprise the local government department secretary, special secretary (health), while other members include Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) chairman, National Database and Registration…

Catch-up drive to immunise children begins in Punjab

The Punjab government has launched the largest routine immunisation catch-up activity in all the 3,572 union councils of the province from April 1 and it will continue till April 30, 2024, to vaccinate each and every child in the province. The activity will be carried out in all the districts…

USAID to help Sindh govt in rebuilding flood-affected schools

KARACHI: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Friday said that the donor agency would work with the Sindh government to chalk out a plan for the reconstruction of flood-affected school buildings in the province. A press statement issued from the CM House said that Chief Minister Syed…

Minister wants ‘education emergency’ imposed

ISLAMABAD: Perturbed by the alarming number of 26.2 million out-of-school children (OOSC) across the country, the newly appointed education minister, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, on 20 March 2024 called for imposing an `education emergency` to address the issue. He made these remarks while chairing a meeting on the affairs of…

Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan to get Daanish schools

As the prime minister directed the authorities to set up Daanish schools in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the federal education ministry on 18 March 2024 expedited efforts to materialise this initiative at the earliest. As per the PM orders, three schools each will be set up in…

Pakistan improved its human development ranking

Pakistan ranks 161st on a list of 191 countries on the UN Human Development Index, scoring 0.544 points, according to a report released on 13 March 2024. This shows a slight improvement from 2023, when Pakistan was ranked 164th with 0.540 points, which was three rungs below its 2022 ranking. The…

Juvenile offenders get exemption in punishments

According to a news report, President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on 7 March 2024 announced a special exemption in the punishments of women and child prisoners on humanitarian grounds. The remission would be applicable to women and children sentenced for two years or less and to those with less…

Government responding to issue of child marriage in KP

Child brides make up half of the women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who suffer from psychological and physical health issues, according to expert Dr Lubna Safeer. Such women are provided counselling and healthcare in two districts of Hazara Division, but these services should be extended to other areas as well, Dr…

Ministry may finally prepare new education policy

According to a news report, the education ministry has finally shown interest in formulating a new education policy after years long delay. At present, the country is following an education policy framed back in 2009. ‘The first meeting of the National Advisory Committee to formulate the National Education Policy 2024…

Rape cases Plea for striking down law criminalising abortion

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has been requested to strike down the law criminalising abortion to the extent of rape victims. `The pro-choice is a reality, which is why it is important that women should have access to medical services without any preconceived notions and biases,` says a public interest…