SAHIWAL: On the order of an additional sessions judge, a team of the district chapter of the Child Protection Bureau (CPB) raided an orphanage at Chichawatni on September 23 , recovering 18 children, 17 of them from Balochistan, who were allegedly being tortured by their teachers and caretakers. The incident came to light after a video went viral on social media, showing a teacher beating a minor boy with a stick, while two other
Child Rights in Focus
LAHORE: The Punjab government has ordered de novo inquiry proceedings against a senior medical officer/ex-medical superintendent (MS) of the Children Hospital Faisalabad for allegedly committing blatant violation of procurement and financial rules, as well as for continuation of irregular and unauthiorised execution of maintenance and repair work. The ex-MS was also accused of giving ‘undue’ favour to a private firm which was owned by his wife. The health secretary appointed Prof Dr Tayyiba Wasim,
PESHAWAR: The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), in collaboration with Unicef Pakistan and with support from the government of the Netherlands, on September 23 launched a study on the situation of displaced and migrant children in the country, along with an accompanying policy brief. The study, titled “Generating Evidence on Internally Displaced Children, Afghan Child Migrants and Forcibly Displaced Children in Pakistan,” provides the first consolidated evidence on the experiences, vulnerabilities
TOBA TEK SINGH: Shorkot City police in Jhang on September 23 registered a case against five teens and arrested three of them for allegedly kidnapping their five friends and forcing them to rape each other over a quarrel. Police spokesperson told the media that five class IX students were on their way to tuition centre on Monday afternoon when their five friends forcibly took them into a house where they tortured the five nine-graders
KARAK: A man was arrested on charges of filming students of Government Girls Degree College Takht-i-Nusrati here on September 23, according to police sources. The sources said District Police Officer of Karak Shahbaz Ilahi took notice of public complaints regarding the uploading the videos of the students of the college on TikTok and directed the station house officer of the police station concerned to take action against the accused identified as Abdullah a resident
KARACHI: Nearly 35,000 parents in Sindh have reportedly refused to get their children vaccinated against poliovirus, with the majority of refusals reported from Karachi. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, in collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), had carried out a vaccination campaign in 25 districts of the province from September 1 to 7. The latest campaign had initially targeted 2.1 million children, but a significant number of children in Sindh, particularly Karachi,
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambitious campaign to vaccinate girls against cervical cancer is facing serious setbacks, with less than 20 percent of girls aged 9–14 years have been immunised so far, despite global recognition of its importance, officials revealed on September 23. Even in the federal capital, home to some of the country’s most educated citizens, the coverage rate has stalled at around 16 percent, reflecting deep-rooted misconceptions and negative propaganda surrounding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Children make up nearly half of Pakistan’s population, yet remain the most overlooked in climate planning. From school closures during floods and heatwaves to rising health risks, child labour, and unsafe displacement, climate change is undoing vital development gains for millions. Despite numerous policies, child-focused action remains missing. Read the full brief, Climate Change and Children in Pakistan, to see why children must be placed at the center of Pakistan’s climate response.
PESHAWAR: Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Science and Information Technology, Dr Shafqat Ayaz, has said that the provincial government’s E-Basta Project has entered its final stages, which will bring a digital revolution to the education system of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “This project will not only provide educational facilities to students but will also offer parents and teachers a platform to directly monitor students’ performance,” he added.According to a handout, Dr Shafqat Ayaz stated
ISLAMABAD: A new confirmed polio case in Hyderabad has pushed Pakistan’s nationwide tally to 27 and the number of cases in Sindh to seven so far this year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said on September 22. According to Regional Reference Laboratory’s official at NIH, the lab has confirmed a polio case in District Hyderabad, Sindh. “With this detection, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 27 —
QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has said that unnecessary posts in various government departments are being abolished and 3,200 non-functional schools have been reopened and made functional in the province. Speaking to students of various educational institutions on Monday, the chief minister said the youth represent the country’s future, and the government is committed to shielding them from negative propaganda. “We have made over 3,200 non-functional schools functional and now classes have been
ISLAMABAD: The education ministry has decided to seek financial help from the community as well as support for non-formal education (NFE) schools of the capital city, which have been facing “persistent challenges, including limited infrastructure, scarce learning materials, inadequate hygiene facilities, and minimal teacher support.” According to the education ministry, there are 1,300 community schools in Islamabad with 1,700 teachers, which are offering non-formal education. These schools are being run by Basic Education Community