LAHORE: The Punjab government on 20th May announced early summer vacations for all public and private schools and colleges across the province, as authorities grapple with an intense heatwave. In a statement from the education ministry, Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat also unveiled revised school timings to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures. Effective May 21, schools will operate from 7:30am to 11:30am until the summer break begins. The schools and colleges
Child Rights in Focus
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior rejected a proposed bill aimed at curbing drug use in educational institutions on May 19, despite strong opposition from the bill’s mover, Senator Mohsin Aziz, who vowed not to withdraw the legislation even if the committee disapproved of it entirely. The meeting was chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem at the Parliament House. Senator Aziz tabled a bill proposing compulsory drug testing of students in educational institutions. Senator
Heat is now the leading cause of weather-related deaths globally, with an estimated 489,000 people dying from heat-related causes each year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). As extreme temperatures become more common in Pakistan as well, lets delve into the WHO guidelines to help people stay safe during heatwaves. In extreme heat, the human body struggles to regulate internal temperature, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion, kidney injury and cardiovascular stress. The
Campaign extended to May 31 amid efforts to enroll 4.9m out-of-school children PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Education Department is struggling to meet its enrollment targets for government schools, leading to an extension of the ongoing school admission campaign until May 31. According to official sources, the department has fallen short of the provincial target set by the Minister for Education, which aimed to enroll one million children during the campaign. In response, the Director of
ISLAMABAD: JUIF chief Fazlur Rehman 19-May-2025 categorically opposed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, terming it against the Islamic Shariah. Speaking in the National Assembly, he said the ‘controversial’ legislation would spoil the damage national unity adding that it was not the proper timing to pass the bill. He called upon the chair to rule that the bill should not be processed further and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) be consulted first. He said
ISLAMABAD: Although the chances of war between Pakistan and India have lessened following the ceasefire, around 7,000 students from Islamabad-based schools and colleges were trained by the Civil Defence Department to handle emergency situations in the federal capital. According to a press release issued by the CDA on Sunday, “Six teams of master trainers from the Directorate General Civil Defence and four teams from the CDA ignited a spark of knowledge and expertise in
SUKKUR: The Hindu Panchayats of different cities and towns have reacted strongly to the recent disappearance of a teenage girl belonging to the Meghwar community and demanded her immediate recovery. They noted that the Class-IX student went missing from Sahib Khan Jiskani village, located in Rohri taluka of Sukkur district. They apprehended that she might have been abducted and forced to convert. Through a press release, the Meghwar Panchayats of Daharki, Ghotki, Rohri and
KHYBER: About 37 primary schools for girls in Khyber have been closed down owing to shortage of teachers and non-payment of salaries to teaching staff for a long time. Officials at education office said that they were faced with shortage of at least 700 female teachers in Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal that resulted in the unannounced closure of 37 primary schools for girls. They said that the closure of those schools also dealt
DERA GHAZI KHAN: Taunsa city police have registered a case against three teachers, including the principal, of a private academy on charge of beating a student. Reports said local resident Faryad Ali filed a complaint with the police, alleging that his two sons Hamid Shahid (14) and Muhammad Qasim (12) were subjected to brutal physical punishment by the academy’s staff, despite repeated warnings about Qasim’s spinal condition. According to the complaint, the administration was
LAHORE: A total of 61,304 students were sworn in as elected officials of student councils in 15,326 elementary and high public schools across Punjab on 17th May. The elections for student councils were held early this month in public schools of all districts of Punjab. The Punjab School Education Department (SED) successfully conducted elections in 15,326 elementary and high schools, empowering 3.18 million students to elect 61,304 leaders, including presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries and
LAHORE. Nawab Town Police arrested suspect accused of sexually assault a nine year old minor boy , following a prompt response to a call received on emergency helpline 15. According to the police the suspect identified a Zafraullah, allegedly intimidated the child before committing the assault. Upon receiving a report, police immediately registered a case and managed to trace and arrest the accused within hours. The suspect was handed over to the investigation wing
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a significant bill seeking stringent laws and penalties to curb child marriages and protect girls from becoming mothers in their teens. The bill, tabled by MNA Sharmila Faruqui, was not on the agenda of the proceedings but was introduced by suspending relevant rules. Once the bill becomes an act, it will be implemented in the federal capital and no court other than that of the district