ISLAMABAD: The country reported yet another case of wild poliovirus (WPV1) on 30th December, bringing the total number of cases this year to 68. The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed that the case was detected in Dera Ismail Khan. “This is the 10th polio case from D.I. Khan this year,” an official from the laboratory said. “So far, 27 cases have been reported from Balochistan, 20 from
Child Rights in Focus
Islamabad: Around 5,398 cases of child sexual abuse were reported across Pakistan during the past five-year period, according to a detailed report analysing cases of child sexual abuse across four provinces Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan of Pakistan from 2019 to 2023. The report was launched by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO). The findings of the report present alarming statistics, highlighting the growing prevalence of the heinous crime and emphasizing the urgent need
The Policy Brief on the Employment of Children in Pakistan analyzes child labour laws and highlights Pakistan’s commitment to international conventions like the UNCRC and ILO. It differentiates between child work and child labour, emphasizing the latter’s harmful effects. The brief calls for uniform child labour laws post-18th Amendment, addressing gaps and inconsistencies across provinces. Key issues include differing age definitions, with Punjab defining a child as under 15, while KP, Sindh, and Balochistan
BATKHELA: Unidentified suspects hanged a young girl and dumped her body in a desolate area In thana. Meanwhile, in Matkani, unknown assailants killed a tailor inside his shop before fleeing the scene. Malakand Levies registered cases for both incidents and initiated investigations. According to the Levies Post in Thana, unidentified suspects strangled 16-year-old (A), daughter of Kareemullah, with a cord and left her body by the edge of Sheen Dhand. A large stone was
An unidentified woman gave birth to a newborn baby girl and left the infant alive in the fields. Once discovered, the baby was shifted to a hospital by the police. A police spokesperson said a passer-by reported to Rescue 15 after seeing a newborn girl lying alive in the fields in Chak No. 102 RB. The police reached the spot and shifted the newborn girl to the hospital through rescue teams. The police started
LAHORE: The rate of the environmental samples testing positive for the polio virus increased by 512 percent in 2024 compared to the last year (2023). A report submitted by the health authorities in a high-level meeting held here some days back in Lahore declared that ‘polio remains a major concern in Punjab’. The data presented in the report shows there were only three districts/cities – Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan – where the environment samples
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday inaugurated phase-II of Pakistan’s largest educational initiative, the ‘Honhaar Scholarship Programme’, covering expenses of 30,000 students annually and 120,000 students over the next four years, marking a historic step in the country’s educational landscape. Speaking at a ceremony held at FAST National University of Computer and Engineering Sciences, the chief minister said under this programme, talented students could pursue higher education at top Pakistani institutions without
Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho has revealed that polio drops are ineffective on children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhoea. To address this issue, the government has decided to give injectable vaccines to such children during the polio eradication campaign. She was addressing a press conference at the Sindh Secretariat along with Provincial Health Secretary Rehan Baloch. Dr Azra stressed on the need to make the annual performance of the health department public
NAWABSHAH: Nawabshah police raided a brick kiln near Khadar on 28th December and recovered 20 bonded labourers who were reportedly being forced to work without wages. The police acted on the orders of the sessions court, which received a complaint from Sabagho Oadh, a resident of Umerkot, requesting the recovery of his relatives from illegal captivity. Khadar police led by SHO Qurban Kalhoro raided the kiln owned by Islamuddin Pathan and Abdul Wahid Pathan,
ISLAMABAD: As many as 1,079 new HIV cases are being reported monthly in Pakistan, with 9,713 people testing positive for HIV in the first nine months of 2024, officials in the Ministry of National Health Services revealed on 27 December 2024. They warned that the total number of HIV cases for the entire year could exceed 12,950, assuming the current monthly average persists. This marks a significant increase compared to the 12,731 total cases
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has held that as the custodians of justice, the courts must adopt a child justice approach that prioritizes the best interests of the child, recognizing their vulnerabilities, developmental needs, and potential. A two-member bench of the apex court – comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A Malik – dismissed a petition, challenging the verdict of Lahore High Court (LHC). “By adhering to these principles, the judiciary not
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on 27th December ordered that the registration of new schools be made conditional to the implementation of the school bus policy. Hearing public interest petitions on environmental issues, Justice Shahid Karim instructed the provincial government that buses must be made mandatory for school registration. The judge ordered the government to halt the registration of new schools, saying every school must follow the policy of provision of buses to pick