PESHAWAR: Experts at a two-day workshop called upon mothers to avoid formula milk and start breastfeeding to newborn babies within first hour of birth so that they could grow and stay safe from ailments. The event entitled ‘breastfeeding and baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI)’ was organised by paediatric department at Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital, Peshawar. The workshop concluded on Thursday. Addressing the workshop, Dr Ziyadullah Shah, head of paediatric department, said that early initiation
Child Rights in Focus
The Sindh government and the World Food Programme (WFP) on 01-May-2025 decided to co-finance a one-year pilot project to provide daily meals to 11,000 District Malir primary school students up to the fifth grade to help improve their learning, attendance and nutrition. The meeting between Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and WFP Country Director Coco Ushiyama at the CM House focused on enhancing ongoing initiatives such as the Nashonuma and Mamta programmes, and
PESHAWAR: A Girls’ Education Summit convened here by the Social Welfare and Women Development Department in collaboration with Blue Veins organization highlighted critical challenges and potential solutions for girls’ education in Kurram district. The summit placed a strong emphasis on tackling learning poverty and exploring alternative educational avenues for girls whose schooling has been disrupted by the prevailing law and order situation in Kurram. Addressing the attendees, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development,
A Gentler World
May 2, 2025
APRIL 30 was the International Day to End Corporal Punishment — one that could slip into obscurity unless pulled into the light with the urgency required to end cyclical, intergenerational violence. In workshops with teachers in Islamabad Capital Territory, a question of interest has been whether they themselves experienced classroom-based corporal punishment in childhood. In government schools, over 70 per cent said yes; for community schools, the response was nearly 100pc. Years later, the
Schoolgirl Ends Life After Harassment
May 2, 2025
Teen’s final video reveals teacher’s threats; FIR registered LODHRAN: A 10th-grade student reportedly took her own life after alleged harassment, blackmail and threats by her schoolteacher in the Gogran area of Lodhran. As per the FIR registered under Section 316 of the Pakistan Penal Code at Qureshiwala Police Station, the accused, identified as Muhammad Saqlain, has been taken into custody, and investigations are underway. The complaint was filed by Allah Bakhsh, father of the
Intermediate Exams Begin Under Stringent Watch
May 1, 2025
Under Section 144, entry of unrelated persons into examination centres has been completely prohibited The annual FA and FSc examinations started across Punjab under the supervision of nine education boards, including the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi. Chairman BISE Rawalpindi, Muhammad Adnan Khan, along with Controller of Examinations Tanveer Asghar Awan, visited several examination centres to inspect the arrangements. On the first day, papers in Psychology, Food and Nutrition, Military Science,
Students Face Shortage Of Textbooks
May 1, 2025
Mianwali. A severe shortage of textbooks in government schools in Hafizabad district is affecting the education of students due to negligence on the part of the Punjab Textbook Board. Several weeks after the beginning of the new academic year, only 20 percent of the students in local schools have received free textbooks, while the remaining 80% are being forced to purchase the books from markets. The shortage has caused distress among parents who were
Islamabad: The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) launched its first-ever State of Children in Pakistan Report 2024 at a ceremony in Islamabad. The Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar attended the event as chief guest. The launch was marked by the presence of ambassadors, UN representatives, parliamentarians, development partners, civil society members, and child rights advocates. In his address, the minister termed the report a significant milestone in
The State of Children in Pakistan 2024
May 1, 2025
The State of Children in Pakistan 2024 report is prepared under Sections 15 and 17 of the NCRC Act, 2017. It presents an evidence-based national assessment of children’s rights. The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) evaluates Pakistan’s compliance with national laws and international commitments, especially the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The report follows the NCRC Strategic Plan 2023–26. It uses a thematic structure based on the
Protect Our Children
May 1, 2025
As the World takes cognisance of the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children which falls today (April 30), the question again arises: where does Pakistan stand in protecting its children from being beaten in institutional settings? Pakistan’s issue is two-pronged. One, it houses the world’s second-largest out-of-school children’s population at around 24 million; school dropouts mostly report being beaten by teachers as the main reason. Second, due to poverty and large families
How To Improve Your Parent-Child Relationship
May 1, 2025
Komal Faisal is a clinical psychologist, trainer and educationist. She possesses a deep understanding of human behavior, cognition, and emotional well-being. Beyond her one-on-one counseling, Komal’s passion for education and imparting knowledge shines through in her numerous lectures and workshops. At MM Talks, she gives insightful guidance on the art of parenting and the correct upbringing of children. Her approach is grounded in both psychological research and practical wisdom, with a keen focus on
ISLAMABAD: Senate’s human rights body on April 29 set a 30-day deadline for all stakeholders to submit written recommendations on the Rights of Child and Rights of Persons with Disabilities bills. In a session marked by grave concerns over human rights violations and institutional inefficiencies, the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights called for sweeping reforms across child protection laws and the mining sector, with a sharp focus on the dire conditions facing coal