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
Child Rights in Focus
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
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,
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 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
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
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
ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety voiced serious concern over the inadequacy of the Rs50 daily stipend for children enrolled in Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) schools and directed that an urgent survey be conducted to rationalize the stipend in accordance with inflationary trends and international child protection standards, particularly considering Pakistan’s GSP Plus commitments. The committee issued directives for PBM to urgently revise the child labour
DIJKOT: A 12-year-old girl died of a head injury after falling from a swing in an amusement park. A complaint was lodged with the police by the father of the victim, Ghulam Mustafa, a resident of Doctor City, blaming negligence of the staff for the incident. The complainant stated that his 12-year-old daughter, Hamna Mustafa, had purchased a ticket and sat on the swing, but the operator started it without taking any safety measures.
Staff instructed to submit an affidavit confirming compliance with directive RAWALPINDI: In response to a decline in new admissions at government schools, the Education Department has made it mandatory for all public school teachers and non-teaching staff to enrol their children in government institutions. Teachers’ unions have rejected this directive outright. According to the new orders, all employees under the Education Department are required to withdraw their children from private schools and enrol them