Policy & Law - Page 2

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49 Preamble The States Parties to the present Convention, Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and…

The Age Of Consent And The Borders Of Belief

ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 marks a pivotal step toward a safer, progressive Pakistan KARACHI. Child rights organisations and advocates, along with concerned citizens, have warmly welcomed the passage of recent legislation on child marriages, describing it as a landmark step toward protecting the rights and well-being of children.…

IHC Judgement on Child Marriage Case

Honourable Justice BABAR SATTAR of the The Islamabad High Court Issuing a…

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Entry into force: 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27 (1)…

Thalassaemia Testing

The National Assembly’s passage of the bill mandating premarital thalassaemia screening in Islamabad is a much-needed first step towards reducing the incidence of the potentially deadly blood disorder. The disorder, which is hereditary, has an unusually high rate of incidence in countries such as Pakistan and areas with large South…

Islamabad’s Students aged 14 Years and above to be Taught Reproductive Health

ISLAMABAD: Students of 14 years and above age now will be taught reproductive health education in Islamabad’s educational institutions as after Senate, National Assembly also passed a bill on March 10 in this regard. Prior written consent from parents or legal guardians shall be mandatory before imparting any instructions related…

KP Cabinet Approves Bill To Control Beggary

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved KP Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill, 2025, for placement before the provincial assembly. The proposed legislation introduces a modernised and rights based framework for addressing vagrancy in the province, replacing the existing legal framework introduced in 2020, read an official statement issued here…

Moot Demands Effective Enforcement of Anti-rape Law

KARACHI: Speakers at a programme on 21 Feb expressed concern over growing social acceptance of rape cases and demanded effective implementation of the anti-rape law. A dialogue on ‘Surge in rape cases: silence of society, lack of institutional and judicial response and commitment’ was organised by the Sindh Women Lawyers…

Punjab Promulgates Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026

LAHORE: Child marriage is now a non-bailable crime in Punjab, with offenders facing up to seven years in prison and Rs1 million fine under a sweeping new ordinance promulgated by Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan here on Wednesday. Issued as the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, the law comes…

CM Afridi Green-lights Bill Against Begging Networks

PESHAWAR: In a move to eliminate organised begging networks across the province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on February 9 approved the ‘Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill’ for presentation before the provincial cabinet for consent. He described the proposed legislation a historic and transformative step, saying the bill is…

CM Promises Children Bright Future

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on January 23 said the province had witnessed terrorism and violence over the past 25 years, and now the time had come to lead children towards knowledge and a bright future. He stated this while speaking at an event, where he launched…

Safeguarding Our Children

This video features Manizeh Bano, Executive Director of Sahil Pakistan. In this compelling conversation, she discusses the critical issue of child protection, Sahil’s efforts in combating child abuse, and the importance of awareness and policy reforms. Gain valuable insights into the challenges and solutions in safeguarding children’s rights in Pakistan.…

Ban on Vape, E-cigarettes for Under-18s on the Cards

In a bid to curb the growing trend of vape smoking among youth in the federal capital, the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services is set to table ‘Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill’ in the House following its approval by the panel. The proposed legislation seeks to impose…

Motorcycle Licences at 16 in Punjab: Mobility, Maturity and the Burden of Responsibility

The newly proposed initiative has opened a deeper debate about accountability, maturity, enforcement and whether the state is regulating reality or retreating from responsibility. LAHORE: In early December 2025, a province-wide traffic enforcement drive in Punjab created a controversy after police registered over 4,600 cases and arrested around 3,100 people in 72…