ISLAMABAD: While climate shocks such as floods and droughts are increasingly threatening children’s access to food, the latest estimates show more than 1.4 million babies were born into hunger in Pakistan in 2024. Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, saw the second highest number of babies born into hunger among countries with over 20 percent under-nourishment, according to the analysis of Save the Children, an international non-governmental organisation, released on December 30.
Child Rights in Focus
LAHORE. Shortage of food, poor health of mothers and a high population growth rate cause the death of 73 of every 1,000 newborn babies in Punjab before reaching the age of one year, a fact sheet released by an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) has revealed. According to experts of the Population Council, a large population of Punjab is not following family planning, without which the newborn mortality rate cannot be reduced. The organisation shared
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on 30th December emphasised the need for legislation, awareness, mandatory premarital lab tests and modern research to combat thalassaemia in Pakistan. During his visit to the Thalassaemia Centre of Sundas Foundation in F-9 Park, he inaugurated an activity room established for thalassaemia children and the electric cart donated by Allied Bank to facilitate the transportation of children from the outer gate. Addressing the ceremony,
• Health dept data shows 132 children died from vaccine-preventable disease this year • Expert laments parents not utilising free vaccines against 12 major diseases KARACHI: Measles — a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable viral infection — is rearing its ugly head again after affecting thousands of children and killing at least 150 children this year in the province, it has emerged. However, the health department data confirmed the deaths of 132 children this year
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
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