TAXILA: The Wah Cantonment police arrested a suspect for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy on Monday. According to a police spokesman, a case of sexual abuse was registered by Wah Cantonment police on a complaint lodged by the brother of the victim against the accused. A police spokesman said a medical examination had confirmed that the victim had been subjected to sexual assault. The accused had been arrested after the complaint was registered.
Child Rights in Focus
PAKISTAN’S education system faces significant challenges on two fronts. Firstly, there is a staggering number of out-of-school children, estimated at 26.2 million. This means that a sizeable portion of the children are not accessing any formal education. Economic factors, cultural barriers, and inadequate infrastructure are the primary reasons. For instance, in some areas, cultural norms may prioritize work or domestic responsibilities over schooling, especially for girls. Additionally, many remote areas lack adequate school facilities,
Pakistan’s prime minister’s declaration of an education emergency is a long-overdue recognition of the severe state of the nation’s education system. However, while well-intentioned, the 14-point plan released by the government lacks the urgency and transformative potential that an actual emergency demands. It reiterates existing initiatives, raising concerns about its effectiveness in addressing the deep-rooted issues that are causing a crisis in the sector. A closer look at these 14 points reveals that these
PESHAWAR: Speakers at a consultancy gathering held here the other day demanded that authorities and policymakers adopt mother languages as compulsory subjects in educational institutions. The meeting on the Mother Languages Movement was organized under the auspices of Mafkoora, a research and development organization. The participants, including rights activists and language experts, urged the provincial government to issue a notification ensuring the teaching of designated mother languages as compulsory subjects in both public and
ISLAMABAD: As many as 68,100 children under the age of five years died in Pakistan in 2021 due to high exposure to air pollution. This figure was revealed in a report titled `Latest State of Global Air 2024`, released in partnership with Unicef. It stated that air pollution was the second leading risk factor for death among children under five. Moreover Pakistan had experienced increases of more than 10pc in ambient ozone exposures in
We are immensely proud to announce that @ayesharazafarooq, Chairperson of the @ncrcpak has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication. On her very first day in this crucial role, she met with Chris Elias President of Global Development at the @gatesfoundation, and the Chair of the Polio Oversight Board. In a bid to study the virus and get a detailed briefing on the ongoing polio eradication program., she also co-chaired
Expanding the Women’s Rights through Judicial Jurisprudence” is a landmark two-volume book that explores the role of the apex judiciary in Pakistan in recognizing and enforcing women’s rights. Volume 1 focuses on rape and women’s right to inheritance, while Volume 2 addresses domestic violence and child marriage. The book sheds light on the ease of accessing child sexual abuse material on the open web and emphasizes the need for judicial intervention to protect women’s
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) called for solidarity and solutions for Afghan refugees, while appreciating the people and government of Pakistan for hosting Afghans for over four decades and urged protection of those seeking safety in the country. UNHCR acknowledged that as Pakistan has been facing its own challenges, the country`s generosity must be matched with international responsibility-sharing. These observations came on World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the UN
The recent imposition of an 18% general sales tax (GST) on formula milk is a matter of considerable concern. The price of formula milk, already a significant expense for many families, will put additional financial strain on households, especially those with limited incomes. This policy decision is particularly troubling given the crucial role that formula milk plays in infant nutrition and overall public health. It is dangerous even, considering Pakistan’s malnutrition crisis. According to
KARACHI: Speakers at a youth leadership workshop on 23 June 2024 tressed the need for creating awareness about consent and sexual and reproductive rights. The workshop focused on health and well-being was aimed at empowering young Pakistanis with essential knowledge and skills in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Public health experts, trainers and professionals from the healthcare sector participated in the workshop conducted at the Lincoln Corner, Pakistan American Culture Center on
BAHAWALPUR: Police have arrested a man who allegedly raped his minor niece in B Colony area of Lodhran city. According to Lodhran city police SHO Zafar Garwan, father of the 10-year-old girl in his complaint alleged that on June 12, his daughter was alone in the house. He said the suspect, her maternal uncle, along with an unidentified man entered the house and allegedly raped the minor. The SHO claimed that the suspect has
KASUR: A 13-year-old boy allegedly subjected to gang rape succumbs to his injuries on 22nd June 2024 at Maan Singh Village in Kot Radha Kishan police precincts. On June 5, unidentified suspects allegedly gang-raped the boy and later threw him on a road in a critical condition. According to complainant, his nephew who worked at a local tea stall did not return home on June 5. The family searched the boy who was found