RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on April 25 said the foundation of a healthy Pakistan lies in protecting our children from preventable diseases. “We are taking steps to increase immunisation coverage to ensure timely delivery of life-saving vaccines to every child. Each year, approximately seven million children in Pakistan receive routine immunisation services. Through polio campaigns, we reach over 45 million children. It is a matter of concern that Pakistan remains
Child Rights in Focus
Pakistan is one of those countries were children are deprived in term of protection, child rights and care. Mr. Atiq Ur Rehman is an expert of child rights and protection. He shares the child population statistics and expresses his views regarding the issues related to child rights, protection and care in Pakistan.
PESHAWAR: A child protection court has sentenced a man to death after convicting him of kidnapping and killing a minor boy here over two years ago. Additional sessions judge Mohammad Hanif pronounced that the prosecution had established the “guilt of the accused, Waqas, beyond shadow of reasonable doubt and that the evidence on record connected him with the commission of the offence.” He also sentenced the convict to 14-year rigorous imprisonment under Section 364-A
PESHAWAR: Teachers of government colleges across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province partially boycotted classes on April 25 to protest the alleged harassment of educators by the district administrations in several cities during the ongoing matriculation examination. The provincial government has allowed the officers of the district administrations to visit examination centres during the matriculation exam for inspection to check cheating. President of All Government Colleges’ Teachers Association Hameed Afridi told Dawn that the deputy commissioners
ISLAMABAD: While high transmission season has been started, Pakistan has reported a second polio case within a short span of three days, pushing the overall tally this year to eight. According to an official of the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, the lab has confirmed a polio case from Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “This is the third polio case from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the eighth case
Islamabad: Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar on 24-April-2025 reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s future through education, saying education is the foundation of a strong, progressive society. She was addressing a ceremony at Bahria University here where the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, in collaboration with the Hashoo School of Hospitality Management, awarded scholarships to students pursuing careers in tourism and hospitality management. The event marked a
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi continued his field visits on the second day of the ongoing anti-polio campaign, touring various localities in District Keamari to oversee the progress of vaccination efforts. Accompanied by United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) representative Saud Khoso, Deputy Commissioner Keamari Raja Tariq Chandio, Assistant Commissioner SITE Nida Saman, and other senior officials, Commissioner Naqvi visited the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation dispensary in Asifabad and met with residents in Asifabad
ISLAMABAD: Amid an ongoing nationwide polio immunization campaign, health authorities on April 23 confirmed Pakistan’s 7th polio case of the year — an 11-year-old boy from the remote Torghar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — reigniting concerns about persistent viral circulation despite intensified efforts to eradicate the crippling disease. According to Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, the child developed symptoms of isolated right-side facial
QUETTA: Two Levies personnel escorting a polio vaccination team were martyred on 23 April when unidentified assailants opened fire on them in the Teri area of Mastung district. According to officials, the shooting was carried out when the polio team was administering vaccines during a week-long anti-polio campaign that started on Monday. The attackers targeted the Levies officers guarding the vaccinators, killing one officer on the spot and leaving another critically injured. The wounded
Lahore: The Punjab government has made genetic testing, including for thalassemia and other diseases, mandatory for students seeking admission to schools, colleges, and religious seminaries across the province. The measure is part of the Thalassemia Prevention Act 2025, passed by the Punjab Assembly, which applies to all public and private educational institutions. Beta Thalassaemia is the most common genetic disorder in the country, with a gene prevalence rate of approximately 6%. This translates as
PAKISTAN’S inability to efficiently utilise allocated development funds is severely hampering our economic progress and climate resilience efforts. With more than $2 billion underspent annually, the country’s absorption capacity has become a critical bottleneck. Instead of reforming archaic processes, we have begun to blame our malaise on the absence of bankable projects. Multiple documents have addressed the issue of underspending and project implementation delays in Pakistan. Numbers from the Economic Affairs Division show that
RAWALPINDI: Police have been directed to immediately establish women and child protection centres at every police station in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal districts. A police spokesman said on 23 April that the move aims to ensure a safe and supportive environment for women and child victims. Dedicated female police officers will handle matters related to vulnerable victims, he said. As per the directives issued by Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Babar Sarfraz Alpa, affected