LAKKI MARWAT: The building of a government girls primary school was blown up with explosives in the Wanda Zahidgul area of Lakki Marwat district on the night of August 30. A police official said that the school was located in the trans-river belt in the limits of Dadiwala police station. He said that the explosive device planted by terrorists went off with a big bang, partially damaging the building. “No casualties occurred as a
Child Rights in Focus
PIC Saves Lives Of 14 Children Through Modern Heart Surgeries
September 1, 2025
PESHAWAR: Heart specialists at the public-sector Peshawar Institute of Cardiology have saved the lives of 14 children, including two Afghans, through the first-ever modern Fontan and Rastelli surgeries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Riffat Anjum, spokesperson for the PIC, told Dawn that the complex lifesaving Fontan and Rastelli surgeries were performed in collaboration with the Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation and a team of paediatric surgeons from Vietnam. “The surgeries were carried out during a five-day specialised
One Week On, Blast-hit School Awaits Repairs
September 1, 2025
While students and staff suffer, officials say Rs100m plan drawn up for reconstruction KARACHI: More than a week after a fireworks warehouse explosion on MA Jinnah Road, repair and restoration work at the adjoining Government Girls Secondary School Jacob Lines No 1 has yet to begin, leaving over 1,000 students deprived of classes. Teachers and staff, who continue to report daily, say academic activities remain suspended as they struggle with cleaning and minor repairs
Uncle Arrested For Drugging and Raping Niece
September 1, 2025
KARACHI: A man was arrested for allegedly raping his 18-year-old niece after drugging her and six other family members, including children, by serving them a sedative-laced drink at a family gathering on Friday night. According to police, the incident took place after the suspect, identified as Amir Shaikh, visited his sister’s home and offered the family drinks and sweets, which rendered them unconscious. The family members were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, where
Sindh Child Labour By Occupation
September 1, 2025
Percentage of Sindh children in child labour 5-17 years by occupation (%) Characteristics Service & sales workers Skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers Craft and related trades workers Plant and machine operators Elementary occupations Other Occupations Total Both sexes 5-17 YR 8.8 18.7 14.6 2.1 54.9 0.9 Boys 12.1 20.1 11.7 2.8 52.4 1 Girls 1.3 15.4 21.4 0.3 60.7 0.8 Source: Sindh Child Labour Survey 2022 – 2024
Sindh Child Labour By Industry
September 1, 2025
Percentage of Sindh Children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Industry(%) Characteristics Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Manufacturing Wholesale and retail trade Water Collection Construction Accommodation and food service activities Activities of households as employees Other Industries Age Both sexes 5-17 YR 55.1 12.4 10.8 7 5.5 2.3 1.8 5.2 Boys 54.9 8.2 14.8 3.5 7.7 3.1 1.2 6.5 Girls 55.5 22.3 1.4 15.1 0.1 0.4 3.1 2 Source: Sindh Child Labour Survey 2022
Prevalence of Child Labour in Gilgit Baltistan by Age and Gender
September 1, 2025
Prevalence of Child Labour in Gilgit Baltistan by Age and Gender (%) Age (YR) Number Total % Boys Girls Total (5-17) 50,761 13.1 26,891 13.60% 23,870 12.50% 5-9 7,029 4.2 3,753 4.30% 3,276 4.10% 10-13 20,024 16.4 10,231 17.20% 9,793 15.70% 14-17 23,708 23.7 12,907 25.10% 10,801 22.30% Source: Gilgil Baltistan Child Labour Survey 2018-2019
ICT Child Labour By Industry
September 1, 2025
Number & Percentage of ICT children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Industry Characteristics Wholesale and retail trade (%) Activities of households as employees % Manufacturing(%) Water Supply (%) Education % Accommodation and food service activities (%) Agriculture, forestry and fishing (%) Construction(%) Other industries (%) Total number of children in child labour Both sexes Total 41.9 15.1 10 7.3 4 8.4 3.4 4.6 5.3 13,966 5-11 YR 28.5 17.9 0 50.1 0
ICT Child Labour By Occupation
September 1, 2025
Number & Percentage of Children in Child Labour 5-17 years by Occupation Characteristics Elementary occupations(%) Service & sales workers (%) Craft and related trades workers (%) Professionals (%) Other Occupations(%) Total Number of children Both sexes Total 32.2 26.5 31.4 3.9 5.9 13,980 5-11 YR 77.5 8.4 14.1 0 0 1,639 12-13 YR 33.6 24.3 41.6 0 0.5 2,457 14-17 YR 24.4 30.1 31.8 5.5 8.2 9,883 Boys Total 28.1 28.9 35.7 0.3
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on 29th July showed concerns over an alleged massive increase in fees by private schools and directed the regulatory body to appear in its next meeting to explain its official position. The Senate Standing Committee on Education held a meeting with Senator Bushra Anjum Butt in the chair. Senator Hidayatullah Khan highlighted the issue of the rising private school fees, which were becoming unaffordable for the common man. The chairperson
Schools To Get Fixed Calender
August 31, 2025
RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has formed a high-powered committee to prepare an academic calendar following the directives from Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench Senior Judge, Justice Jawad Hassan, on Thursday. The judge termed the extension of summer vacations across Punjab as undesirable, saying that the High Court would resolve this matter permanently. The committee is comprised of Punjab Advocate General Usman Khan, Assistant Advocate General Barrister Raja Hashim Javed, Secretary Higher Education, Secretary Law
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elementary and secondary education department has initiated work to outsource 1,500 government primary schools in the province to private organisations over low enrolment and poor academic performance, say officials. They told Dawn that the schools would be outsourced to the private organisations working in the education sector, preferably non-profit organisations. “The education department has declared government primary schools with 40 and below enrolment as under-utilised,” an official said. He said the education