ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has emphasised the need for collective efforts from the government, civil society, and the public to safeguard children’s rights and provide them with a safe environment. “Today, we observe the World Day Against Child Labour, which reminds us to make efforts to protect every child from exploitation and to build a future where children can learn, play, and grow in a safe and dignified environment,” President Zardari
Child Rights in Focus
A 13-year-old house help died after her employers allegedly tortured her in Rahim Yar Khan, in yet another tragic incident, once again raising concerns over the safety of underage domestic workers in the country. According to the police, a man and his wife have been arrested over suspicion of being responsible for the alleged torture that led to the young girl, Samia’s death in the city’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. The victim, who was a resident
Minor girl rescued in 72 hours after kidnapping, rickshaw driver held KARACHI .District Malir Investigation Police have arrested a couple, involved in kidnapping children, and recovered two kidnapped girls from the couple’s house. One of recovered girls was kidnapped three years ago. A case of the kidnapping of 14-year-old Laiba Batool was registered at Quaidabad police station, against unidentified suspects, on the complaint of the abductee’s brother, Muhammad Munshi Khan. Investigation revealed that after
The active role of the deputy commissioners across Karachi was also acknowledged KARACHI: A delegation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Polio Branch discussed sustaining momentum toward eradication goals, including continued CDC technical assistance and capacity building of health department staff. The critical role of NSTOP officers in supporting District Emergency Operations Centers (DEOCs) was highlighted as a key element of the response structure. The CDC Polio Branch delegation was
The highlights of the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 showcase economic improvements, including a projected GDP growth of 5.7% and a primary surplus of 3.0% of GDP. Inflation has reached a record low of 0.3% in April 2025, while the current account surplus stands at $1.9 billion, bolstered by high remittances. For more details, check out the Economic Survey Highlights 2024 – 2025.
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. “The passage of the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 is a defining moment for Pakistan. This legislation affirms our national commitment to protecting
RAWALPINDI: After the police enlarged the scope of their investigation to determine the real circumstance surrounding the murder of a toddler allegedly by her 10-year-old cousin in Ratta Amral, it emerged that the suspect was mentally unstable. This was revealed by the grandmother of the juvenile suspect during police investigation. The suspect’s mother had left her husband’s house, along with her two children, including the 10-year-old boy, and started living with her parents in Ratta Amral.
ISLAMABAD: In the context of the recent murder of a TikToker, Pakistan’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has issued an advisory, noting that women continue to face persistent threats such as image-based abuse and digital harassment in Pakistan. The advisory — titled Safe, Diligent, and Responsible Usage of Social Media — has painted a stark picture of the digital threat landscape in Pakistan, highlighting risks that affect millions particularly children, women, and elderly
In the quiet courtyards of rural Pakistan, a 13-year-old girl is pulled from her school desk and handed a bridal dress. Her childhood ends not with celebration, but with chores, early pregnancy, and a silence enforced by custom. This is not a regional anomaly; it is a national emergency. According to one UNICEF report, based on the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017-18, one in six women aged 20–24 in Pakistan was married before
CHILD marriage persists in Pakistan for many reasons, and ending the practice requires measures that are sensitive to the problem’s complexity. Debates on child marriage tend to reduce this complexity to two opposing legal positions. Proponents of gender equality and child welfare support higher minimum age limits for child marriage and harsher criminal penalties. Religious parties and lobbies, on the other hand, claim that lower minimum age limits are consistent with Islamic law. Discussion
ISLAMABAD: A local court on 4th June approved a 14-day judicial remand for Omar Hayat, the prime suspect in the murder of social media influencer Sana Yousaf, to facilitate his identification parade. The accused was presented before Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad Gondal by the federal police. Tensions rose in the courtroom when the magistrate noticed the absence of both the prosecutor and the district public prosecutor. Expressing his displeasure, Magistrate Gondal said: “Where are the
The Islamabad IG has rightly called this a case of ‘repeated rejections’. Another young woman has been silenced, not by society’s disapproval of her ambitions, but by its refusal to protect her from male entitlement and rage. The brutal murder of 17-year-old social media influencer Sana Yousaf in Islamabad, allegedly by a man who could not handle rejection, is a terrifying reminder that Noor Mukadam was not a tragic anomaly, but a chilling precedent.