PAKISTAN is in the midst of a critical education crisis, with over 22.8 million children aged five to 16 years out of school, placing it second only to Nigeria in this context. The situation is especially dire for girls, with 53 percent out of school as compared to 43pc of boys. Declaring a national education emergency, Pakistan identifies poverty, lack of infrastructure, cultural barriers, child labour, and early marriages as core obstacles. Innovative solutions
Child Rights in Focus
ISLAMABAD/ KALAYA/MIRANSHAH/ KOHAT/LAHORE: Polio has crippled yet another child in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a 30-month-old girl has become the 42nd victim of the virus this year in Pakistan, officials confirmed on 29-October-2024. The diagnosis, verified by Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, highlights the continuing threat of polio across the country. This case, the first reported from Nowshera in 2024, adds to Pakistan’s mounting total, which includes
Pakistan faces a polio crisis with 40 cases this year, highlighting an urgent need for revamped eradication strategies. On the International Day for Polio, Pakistan got an unfortunate distinction. We identified another polio case, totaling 40 so far this year. Despite successive governments declaring Polio as a high priority and a national emergency, we are completely failing in polio eradication, even though we were so close a few times. Not only do we have
PESHAWAR: The health department is starting a four-day deworming programme for children aged 5 to 14 in 22 high-risk districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 4 to 8. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Pakistan Deworming Initiative (PDI) jointly hosted a media symposium here on Monday, focusing on the crucial role media played in controlling worm infections in children. This event brought together representatives from health, education, administration, local government and rural
KARACHI: Cyberbullying is increasingly turning into a societal menace, and the phenomenon drove a teen to suicide in the city. Police have arrested three youths on the charge of torturing a teenage boy and making the video viral on social media. The victim’s father said the shame of the incident drove his son to take his own life. Abdul Rafi, a student of grade IX, committed suicide by putting a noose around his neck
NAROWAL: Police on 28th October registered a case against 16 suspects for allegedly abducting a 14-year-old rape victim when she was on her way home after recording her statement in a sessions court. Complainant ‘K of Mandiala village, Shakargarh tehsil, told the police that her niece ‘A’ had gone to collect firewood from an outhouse. Usman Anwar, a local resident, forcibly took her to the fields and allegedly raped her. Shah Gharib police had
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has sacked 65 ‘habitual absentee schoolteachers’ from service with immediate effect. Officials of the directorate of education of Balochistan said on Monday the termination orders of services of the schoolteachers were given by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. They said the chief minister had taken serious notice of the existing ghost schools, absent teachers and other employees and non-functional schools in the province and ordered strict action against such teachers and
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development aimed at enhancing digital educational opportunities for marginalized girls, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in collaboration with Unesco Pakistan has announced the deployment of advanced IT equipment in 80 government girls’ schools across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The decision was finalized in a meeting chaired by the secretary Federal Education and attended by a Unesco team and senior officials. The secretary expressed
Reject show-cause notices, demand cancellation of assessments The online Teachers Need Assessment (TNA) test system for evaluating Education Department staff has failed to operate effectively. On October 28, primary teachers did not participate in the online test, leading the Education Department to issue show-cause notices to 1,000 teachers in the Rawalpindi division, withholding their November salaries and requesting police help from deputy commissioners. On the other hand, teachers have refused to receive the show-cause
LAHORE: In what appeared to be a horrific crime, a man allegedly raped a teenage factory worker, pumped air into his belly, and killed him in the Kahna area here the other day. It is the second such barbarian act reported in Kahna area, as a blind street beggar was also allegedly murdered by three suspects in the same way in November 2019. About the latest incident, the initial police reports suggest that 15-year-old
Stresses on helping affected people lead independent and fulfilling lives Down syndrome is not a disease but a chromosomal condition, said Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and stressed the importance of dispelling misconceptions and urged a focus on the incredible potential of these individuals. “With the timely proper support and early intervention, these individuals can lead independent and fulfilling lives.” This statement was made on Friday during the 10th anniversary of the Karachi Down
The Orangi Town police have arrested the man suspected of attacking a woman and her two minor children. The woman’s son had succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Officials said the suspect is an ice addict, adding that he was apparently interested in the injured woman. They said the suspect has a criminal history, with cases of robbery, and possession of drugs and illegal weapons registered against him at the Khawaja Ajmair Nagri and