Just days ago, another police officer has been martyred while guarding a health team administering polio drops to kids in Pakistan. Since 2012 many hundreds of Pakistani law enforcers and health staff engaged in polio eradication have sacrificed their lives. In a recent article in The Lancet, Prof Dr Zulifqar Bhutta has mentioned that Pakistan has spent nearly $10 billion on polio eradication since 2011, with most of this amount coming directly from international
Child Rights in Focus
RAWALPINDI: Private schools have once again dominated the admission process for the 2025 academic year. Despite announcements, public schools have yet to begin new admissions, and a large number of parents have already enrolled their children in nearby private schools. Smaller private institutions with fees as low as Rs1,000 have seen an influx of enrolments. Private schools are set to begin their new academic year and classes in the first week of March, while
RAWALPINDI: A toddler died after falling into an underground water tank in the limits of Saddar Beroni Police Station on 26th February. According to police reports, Mohammad Azan, a three-year-old toddler, was playing outside his house in Kalyal area of Saddar Beroni when he fell into the water tank of his neighbouring house. Shortly after the toddler was retrieved from the water tank, the emergency service staff and police reached the spot. Azan was
QUETTA: Quetta police on February 25 claimed completing 90 percent investigation in the honour killing of the 15-year-old American girl Hira. According to Senior Superintendent Police Serious Crime Wing Zohaib Mohsin, they are trying to finish the investigation as soon as possible. Police have already recovered the weapon used in the heinous crime and submitted a challan to the court. However, investigators are still waiting to record statements of Hira’s father and sisters to
GUJRANWALA: A man who allegedly raped and murdered a five-year-old girl, was killed in an alleged police encounter on 25th February. The suspect was accused of kidnapping the five-year-old daughter of a tailor, and raping and killing her. He buried her body in the courtyard of a vacant house belonging to relatives. Under the supervision of DSP Owais Gujar and SHO Mubashir Warraich, the police arrested the suspect and, upon his identification, recovered the
KARACHI: More than 41,800 children were denied polio vaccine by their parents in the metropolis when health workers visited their homes during the current year, it emerged on 25th February. The provincial data showed that Sindh has reported 42,999 refusal cases this year and Karachi’s share stands at 41,875. The number of refusals in remaining Sindh districts stands at a mere 1,124. With over 97 per cent share in refusal cases, Karachi remains a crucial
LAHORE: As many as 150 children received free bone marrow transplants and 2,000 others were treated for cancer at the Lahore Children’s Hospital. This was stated by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz who said, “Free treatment is the right of every patient and child.” She said: “The success rate of bone marrow transplant operations is above 89%, very much in line with the world standards. More than Rs4.2 million have been spent on bone
KARACHI: A sessions court on 24th February sentenced four peddlers, including an underage boy, to 14 years in prison for possessing over 20kg of drugs. Additional District and Sessions Judge (West) Aurangzeb Shah found a car driver, Muhammad Saleem, and three passengers — Sikandar, Syed Wali and underage Muhammad Ahmed Khan — guilty of possessing over 20kg of charas. The drug was recovered by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) during a checking of a car
This powerful documentary explores the critical issues facing children in Pakistan, from child labor and lack of education to gender inequality and health challenges. Despite constitutional guarantees, millions of children in Pakistan remain deprived of their basic rights. This documentary sheds light on the urgent need for collective action to ensure every child can live, learn, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
AS most parents with young children will agree, the easiest way to pacify a bawling child is to hand them a smartphone, tablet, or other digital device. But though this might ensure temporary calm, the long-term effects of this practice — particularly the unsupervised use of digital devices — can have negative consequences. According to a recent survey by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, 89pc of parents use digital gadgets to keep children occupied. Interestingly, 78pc
Police solve 11-year-old Sohaib Qamar’s murder, arresting his maternal uncle and aunt. OKARA: The murder of 11-year-old Sohaib Qamar in Shahzad Colony, Dipalpur, was resolved as police identified his maternal uncle and aunt as the culprits. Police arrested both accused, who later confessed to the crime. The breakthrough was announced by DPO Okara Muhammad Rashid Hidayat in a press conference. Police said four days ago, Sohaib Qamar, the son of Qamar Abbas, an employee
With rampant unemployment, youth seeking skills training have to pay hefty fee for private courses Even as the Punjab government paints a positive picture of itself in the eyes of the youth by distributing laptops, the failure of the leaders to recognize the growing demand for technical education amidst an increasingly volatile job market, has disillusioned a large segment of the unemployed youth, who have no alternative means of earning an income. In recent