RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force detained six Nigerian nationals allegedly involved in supplying drugs in educational institutions and recovered 3.2 kilograms of ice and 135 grams of cocaine. A press release issued by the ANF said that following intelligence, the ANF conducted an operation against drug smugglers in Islamabad and arrested a Nigerian national. During interrogation, the accused also revealed the involvement of his other foreign associates which led to the arrest of five other
Child Rights in Focus
Over one million under-five children to be vaccinated against polio in three districts In Larkana, the anti-polio drive in Larkana district was kicked off on 16 December 2024 to vaccinate 480,000 children of up to five years of age. The health department has formed 1,089 mobile and 86 transit teams for the district with the task of going door-to-door and also visiting bus stops, railway stations, and other public points to administer polio drops
PARACHINAR: At least 29 children have died in Kurram district due to shortage of medicines amid prolonged road closures, an official said on 16 December 2024. Dr Syed Mir Hassan Jan, medical superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital Parachinar, said that since October 1, the hospital has been unable to provide adequate treatment due to a lack of medicines and basic facilities. “In addition to the 29 children who have died, several other patients have
CASE: Khanewal Kuhna police registered a case on December 15 against a man and his 10 accomplices for allegedly harassing a first-year student and her three minor sisters. According to the FIR, complainant Syeda Umme Farwa, daughter of Syed Maajid Hussain Naqvi of Station Mor, Khanewal, stated that her father is elderly and unwell, and she has no brothers. To support her family and fund her and her sisters’ education, she set up a
Globally, millions of children still lack birth registration, which is essential for legal identity and access to rights like education, healthcare, and protection from exploitation. Despite progress in recent years, challenges such as poverty, lack of awareness, and systemic gaps continue to hinder universal registration. Efforts to simplify processes and integrate registration with health and social services are showing promise. In Pakistan, disparities persist, especially in rural and low-income areas, where many children remain
Human trafficking remains a global crisis, with rising cases after the pandemic, particularly affecting women, children, and vulnerable groups. Forced labor has become the most common form of exploitation, followed by sexual exploitation, while justice systems struggle to address these crimes effectively. Organized crime networks play a significant role in trafficking, with victims increasingly transported across international borders. In South Asia, including Pakistan, trafficking is fueled by economic challenges, displacement, and migration routes. Children,
PESHAWAR: In order to participate in the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games 2024, a 374-member contingent from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) departed on Friday from the Peshawar Sports Complex. The contingent was officially seen off by the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Syed Fakhar Jihan. The Games are scheduled to be held in Islamabad from December 14 to 19 and K-P athletes will compete in 15 male and 11 female events. Addressing the athletes during the
ISLAMABAD: The Transeducation Project which started three years ago with only 17 students in south Punjab has now reached the milestone of a total of 244 enrollments. More interestingly, the project, which started with only one school in Multan for imparting education to the transgender community, has now been expanded to two more schools—one in Dera Ghazi Khan established in August 2022 and the other in Bahawalpur established in March 2022. Coordinator Special Initiatives
HYDERABAD: A rally was held here on 10 December 2024 under the aegis of the Society for the Protection of Rights of the Child (Sparc) in collaboration with the district administration to commemorate Human Rights Day. Speaking at the rally, an official of the district administration, Abdul Khaliq Baloch, said that a ban had already been imposed on child begging, adding that the provincial social welfare department had been directed to pick up the children
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has expressed its concern over the growing trend of fathers questioning the legitimacy of their children by requesting DNA analysis, often as a tactic to evade paying maintenance allowances to their ex-spouses. “It is becoming a common practice in our society that whenever a suit for recovery of maintenance allowance is filed against a person, he comes forward to the court and challenges the legitimacy of the child by
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Students and teachers staged a demonstration in the Angoor Adda Bazaar here on 9 December 2024 against the closure of the Pak-Afghan border point. A large number of students and teachers from various government and private schools and madressahs attended the protest. Maulana Tasbihullah Wazir, who led the protesters, demanded that the local people should be exempted from visa and passport condition, and should be allowed to move freely across the border
ISLAMABAD: Apart from the challenge of around 26 million out-of-school children, Pakistan’s education system is rife with quality issues as only five percent of children are receiving good quality education. Moreover, only 12pc of the eligible age group has currently access to higher education, according to the education ministry’s “National Education Policy Development Framework 2024” launched on 09-December-2024. “Roughly, not more than 5 percent of children are receiving good quality education. No province can