LAHORE: Challenging the reported polio cases in Chakwal and Mandi Bahauddin, the Punjab government has claimed to have taken serious measures to eradicate polio from the province. In the past six months, a dedicated anti-polio drive has successfully reached every child under five years of age. These remarks were made by the Minister of Primary & Secondary Healthcare during a press conference. The minister presented visual evidence contradicting claims of polio infections, showing children
Child Rights in Focus
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on 27th February launched two card schemes to provide monthly stipend to orphans and widows. An official statement issued from Chief Minister’s Secretariat said that under Roshan Mustaqbil Card, 9,000 orphaned children up to 16 years of age would receive a monthly stipend of Rs10,000. It said that those children, who had lost both their parents, would be prioritised. The statement said that Sahara Card was designed to provide
JARANWALA: Seven children with congenital heart conditions underwent cardiac surgeries at Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC), performed by a team of British doctors visiting Pakistan. Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique visited FIC and met with the British medical delegation, which included Dr Sandeep, Dr Omar Aziz and Dr Imran Saeed. The minister expressed gratitude to the foreign medical team for their efforts in saving young lives. He also met with the children
GILGIT: A tragic accident occurred on 27-February-2025 morning in Baseen Khari, a suburban area of Gilgit, where a speeding vehicle ran over three sisters, killing them on the spot. “They were in school uniform and heading to their school when it happened,” said a witness. Another girl accompanying them sustained injuries and was shifted to a hospital. According to police, the accident took place near the Baseen Police Station on the main highway connecting
Just days ago, another police officer has been martyred while guarding a health team administering polio drops to kids in Pakistan. Since 2012 many hundreds of Pakistani law enforcers and health staff engaged in polio eradication have sacrificed their lives. In a recent article in The Lancet, Prof Dr Zulifqar Bhutta has mentioned that Pakistan has spent nearly $10 billion on polio eradication since 2011, with most of this amount coming directly from international
RAWALPINDI: Private schools have once again dominated the admission process for the 2025 academic year. Despite announcements, public schools have yet to begin new admissions, and a large number of parents have already enrolled their children in nearby private schools. Smaller private institutions with fees as low as Rs1,000 have seen an influx of enrolments. Private schools are set to begin their new academic year and classes in the first week of March, while
RAWALPINDI: A toddler died after falling into an underground water tank in the limits of Saddar Beroni Police Station on 26th February. According to police reports, Mohammad Azan, a three-year-old toddler, was playing outside his house in Kalyal area of Saddar Beroni when he fell into the water tank of his neighbouring house. Shortly after the toddler was retrieved from the water tank, the emergency service staff and police reached the spot. Azan was
QUETTA: Quetta police on February 25 claimed completing 90 percent investigation in the honour killing of the 15-year-old American girl Hira. According to Senior Superintendent Police Serious Crime Wing Zohaib Mohsin, they are trying to finish the investigation as soon as possible. Police have already recovered the weapon used in the heinous crime and submitted a challan to the court. However, investigators are still waiting to record statements of Hira’s father and sisters to
GUJRANWALA: A man who allegedly raped and murdered a five-year-old girl, was killed in an alleged police encounter on 25th February. The suspect was accused of kidnapping the five-year-old daughter of a tailor, and raping and killing her. He buried her body in the courtyard of a vacant house belonging to relatives. Under the supervision of DSP Owais Gujar and SHO Mubashir Warraich, the police arrested the suspect and, upon his identification, recovered the
KARACHI: More than 41,800 children were denied polio vaccine by their parents in the metropolis when health workers visited their homes during the current year, it emerged on 25th February. The provincial data showed that Sindh has reported 42,999 refusal cases this year and Karachi’s share stands at 41,875. The number of refusals in remaining Sindh districts stands at a mere 1,124. With over 97 per cent share in refusal cases, Karachi remains a crucial
LAHORE: As many as 150 children received free bone marrow transplants and 2,000 others were treated for cancer at the Lahore Children’s Hospital. This was stated by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz who said, “Free treatment is the right of every patient and child.” She said: “The success rate of bone marrow transplant operations is above 89%, very much in line with the world standards. More than Rs4.2 million have been spent on bone
KARACHI: A sessions court on 24th February sentenced four peddlers, including an underage boy, to 14 years in prison for possessing over 20kg of drugs. Additional District and Sessions Judge (West) Aurangzeb Shah found a car driver, Muhammad Saleem, and three passengers — Sikandar, Syed Wali and underage Muhammad Ahmed Khan — guilty of possessing over 20kg of charas. The drug was recovered by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) during a checking of a car