ISLAMABAD: Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) MNA Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan has urged young girls to take benefit from the vaccination campaign launched by the government against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and vaccinate against the virus being the leading cause of cervical cancer. “Today marks an important milestone in safeguarding the health and future of our children, as Pakistan launches a nationwide Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign from Sept 15 to 27.
Child Rights in Focus
Dengue Alert Issued, Expected to Last Until Dec 5
September 16, 2025
KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a nationwide dengue alert, warning that the risk of dengue fever will be high between September 20 and December 5 due to post-monsoon weather conditions. The alert states that dengue has become a consistent public health threat in Pakistan over the past decade, especially in the weeks following the monsoon rains. According to scientific data, the risk of dengue transmission is greatest when temperatures remain between 26
13 Die in Punjab Road Crashes
September 16, 2025
LAHORE: At least 13 people died, whereas 1,823 were injured in 1,527 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) in Punjab during the last 24 hours. Of them, 823 people were shifted to hospitals, while 1,000 victims with minor injuries were treated at the incident sites. Data showed that 1,007 adult and 72 underage drivers, 187 pedestrians and 642 passengers were among the victims. The statistics show that 263 RTCs were reported in Lahore, which affected 340
Global Boys’ Initiative: Pakistan Case Study
September 16, 2025
Pakistan is home to over 53 million boys under 18, forming a significant part of its 106 million child population. Yet, challenges remain acute: nearly 27% of boys aged 5–16 are out of school, and an estimated 3.4 million children are engaged in child labour, with boys forming the majority. Health indicators are equally concerning, with 45% of children under five suffering from stunting due to malnutrition. For adolescent boys, risks intensify as they
TikTok Ban Resolution Submitted In Punjab Assembly
September 15, 2025
LAHORE: A resolution to ban TikTok was submitted in the Punjab Assembly. The resolution has been presented by opposition member Farrukh Javed Moon, in which the federal government has been requested to completely ban TikTok in Pakistan. The text of the submitted resolution stated that in Pakistan, TikTok mafia was promoting obscenity and nudity through live chat, which was attracting the younger generation, especially children, towards immorality. The resolution further stated that young boys
STEVTA Launches Skills Programme for Juvenile Prisoners
September 15, 2025
The Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at rehabilitating juvenile prisoners through modern skills training. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between STEVTA and the Tasawwur-e-Umeed Foundation at the Central Jail Karachi to formalise the collaboration. Following the signing ceremony, Junaid Buland, special assistant to the chief minister of Sindh and STEVTA chairperson, visited the central prison to meet incarcerated children. He announced that over
HPV Vaccine
September 15, 2025
Pakistan is on the cusp of a major public health breakthrough. From September 15 to 27, the country will launch its first-ever national HPV vaccination campaign – an ambitious yet necessary initiative aimed at protecting millions of girls from cervical cancer, a disease that claims thousands of lives each year despite being almost entirely preventable. The numbers are staggering. Over 5,000 women in Pakistan are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, and more than half
Stray Dogs Maul 208 People in a Month
September 15, 2025
MIRPURKHAS: The growing number of stray, rabid, and diseased dogs in Mirpurkhas and adjoining areas has sparked fear among residents, with 208 dog bite cases reported in just the past month. Locals say packs of stray dogs freely roam residential streets and marketplaces, endangering citizens — particularly children and the elderly. Multiple dog bite incidents have been reported across the city, creating widespread panic and frustration among the public. In previous years, the municipal
Privatisation Gamble Risks Future of Students
September 15, 2025
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in its third consecutive term, has declared an “education emergency” in the province. However, despite these claims, the government is moving ahead with an aggressive outsourcing plan for public education institutions both at the school and college levels. Official documents available with The Express Tribune have revealed that more than 4,000 government schools have already been handed over to private operators while preparations
Retired Major Accused of Domestic Abuse, Harassment
September 15, 2025
BADIN: A retired army major has been accused of subjecting his wife to years of domestic abuse and harassing her family through alleged false cases. At a press conference at the Badin Press Club, Ameer Haider — popularly known as Haidari Burger Wala — and his wife Shabana claimed their daughter, Muqaddas Fatima, was married four years ago to Major (retd) Anwar Hussain Khawaja when she was just 17-years-old. According to the parents, since the marriage
In a First, Local Doctors in Karachi Team Up To Perform Rare Heart Disorder Surgery
September 15, 2025
• NICVD, AKUH collaborate to save child from a type of inherited arrhythmia syndrome • Expert says rare surgical procedure is carried out by a few centres in US, Canada KARACHI: Amidst a constant flow of distressing news emerging from their hometown in flood-hit Multan, Sajid Hussain and his wife Samina find some solace when they look at their son Ayan today without feeling a surge of anxiety. The five-year-old suffering from a potentially
Education Disrupted
September 15, 2025
A MIX of natural calamities, terrorism and bureaucratic ineptitude has resulted in difficulties for students in KP’s Khyber tribal district. In fact, the situation in Khyber reminds us of the disruptions in education that tens of thousands of school-age children face across Pakistan because of floods and militancy. As reported, some prefabricated schools in Khyber, which were built to replace educational facilities damaged by militants, are lying unused, mainly because of bottlenecks created by