National - Page 15

Local Production Of Iron, Folic Acid Supplements May Curb Anaemia In 15m Pakistani Girls

ISLAMABAD: The local production of Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFAS) in adolescent doses could prevent around 15 million adolescent girls in Pakistan from suffering from iron deficiency anemia as ensuring sustainable access to these supplements could significantly reduce costs and lessen reliance on expensive imports, according to officials and nutrition experts. Iron deficiency anaemia is the leading cause…

Federal Health Minister Urges Action As Vaccination Refusals Hindering Polio Eradication

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has expressed serious concern over vaccine refusals, stating that nearly 43,000 parents in Sindh — 42,000 of them in Karachi alone —have refused polio vaccination for their children, posing a major obstacle to the eradication efforts. He made these remarks while visiting the Provincial…

New Textbooks For Grade 1 To 5 To Be Delivered In Two Weeks

ISLAMABAD: The supply of newly developed textbooks for grade 1 to 5…

Children With Disabilities Showcase Talent At PNCA

Islamabad: The Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE), Ministry of Federal Education…

EU Backs Efforts to Raise Legal Marriage Age for Girls in Pakistan to 18

ISLAMABAD: The European Union on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan in raising the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 years, as discussions at the 18th Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference concluded on October 17. The three-day event, organised by PODA in collaboration with Lok Virsa…

Winter Viruses Are Near: Your Prevention Checklist

Winter edges in and, like clockwork, Covid-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) step back into the spotlight. According to CNN, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects 2025–26 peak hospitalisations from these viruses to be broadly similar to last season in the United States. Vaccines won’t block…

Invisible Childhood

THE world rightly sees child domestic workers as modern slaves, while domestic labour is categorised as informal work, or invisible labour. In July 2022, a qualitative study by the International Labour Organisation revealed that one in every four Pakistani households employs a minor, showing a predominance of girls from 10…

Children From Minority Religions in Pakistan: Situational Analysis 2024

Religious minorities in Pakistan face structural discrimination and social exclusion that adversely affect their access to basic rights and services, including education, health, protection, and participation. Within these marginalized communities, children experience multiple layers of vulnerability due to poverty, social stigma, and institutional neglect. The situational analysis identifies that minority…

NCRC Annual Report 2024 – 2025

The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) advanced major child protection reforms in 2024–2025, including the drafting of the Prohibition of Child Labour in Domestic Work Bill 2024 and advocacy for harmonizing the minimum marriage age at 18 years across all provinces. The Commission launched the State of…

Caucus Stresses Action on Child Protection

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has underscored the collective responsibility of lawmakers to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for every child in Pakistan. The call was made during a session of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) at the Parliament House on October 12. The meeting, chaired by PCCR…

A Shot of Hope: Saving Girls from a Silent Killer

When little Sana, a shy 12-year-old from Karachi, walked into her school’s assembly hall last week, she thought it was just another health drive. But when she returned home later that day, proudly showing her vaccination card to her mother, she had unknowingly taken a step that could one day…

Pakistan Launches Polio Drive Targeting 45 Million Children: NEOC

The National Emergency Operations Centre has announced that 45.4 million children will receive polio drops during the upcoming weekly polio campaign. In addition to the polio vaccine, children will also be administered a supplementary dose of Vitamin A. The national polio campaign is scheduled to run across the country from…

Drivers of Forced Conversion through Marriage in Pakistan

The report examines Forced Conversion through Marriage (FCM) in Pakistan, revealing how minor girls and women from Religious Minority Communities face coercion rooted in patriarchy, discrimination, and weak legal enforcement. It highlights the blurred lines between force and consent, showing how psychological, social, and economic pressures drive manipulation. The findings…

Pakistan Deeper Into Hunger Crisis, Warns GHI

ISLAMABAD: Climate shocks, soaring food prices, and chronic underinvestment in nutrition and health have pushed Pakistan deeper into a hunger crisis, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025 warns, placing the country among those still facing “serious” levels of hunger despite more than two decades of national and global pledges to…

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