Pakistan is home to over 53 million boys under 18, forming a significant part of its 106 million child population. Yet, challenges remain acute: nearly 27% of boys aged 5–16 are out of school, and an estimated 3.4 million children are engaged in child labour, with boys forming the majority. Health indicators are equally concerning, with 45% of children under five suffering from stunting due to malnutrition. For adolescent boys, risks intensify as they
Child Rights in Focus
LAHORE: A resolution to ban TikTok was submitted in the Punjab Assembly. The resolution has been presented by opposition member Farrukh Javed Moon, in which the federal government has been requested to completely ban TikTok in Pakistan. The text of the submitted resolution stated that in Pakistan, TikTok mafia was promoting obscenity and nudity through live chat, which was attracting the younger generation, especially children, towards immorality. The resolution further stated that young boys
The Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at rehabilitating juvenile prisoners through modern skills training. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between STEVTA and the Tasawwur-e-Umeed Foundation at the Central Jail Karachi to formalise the collaboration. Following the signing ceremony, Junaid Buland, special assistant to the chief minister of Sindh and STEVTA chairperson, visited the central prison to meet incarcerated children. He announced that over
Pakistan is on the cusp of a major public health breakthrough. From September 15 to 27, the country will launch its first-ever national HPV vaccination campaign – an ambitious yet necessary initiative aimed at protecting millions of girls from cervical cancer, a disease that claims thousands of lives each year despite being almost entirely preventable. The numbers are staggering. Over 5,000 women in Pakistan are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, and more than half
MIRPURKHAS: The growing number of stray, rabid, and diseased dogs in Mirpurkhas and adjoining areas has sparked fear among residents, with 208 dog bite cases reported in just the past month. Locals say packs of stray dogs freely roam residential streets and marketplaces, endangering citizens — particularly children and the elderly. Multiple dog bite incidents have been reported across the city, creating widespread panic and frustration among the public. In previous years, the municipal
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in its third consecutive term, has declared an “education emergency” in the province. However, despite these claims, the government is moving ahead with an aggressive outsourcing plan for public education institutions both at the school and college levels. Official documents available with The Express Tribune have revealed that more than 4,000 government schools have already been handed over to private operators while preparations
BADIN: A retired army major has been accused of subjecting his wife to years of domestic abuse and harassing her family through alleged false cases. At a press conference at the Badin Press Club, Ameer Haider — popularly known as Haidari Burger Wala — and his wife Shabana claimed their daughter, Muqaddas Fatima, was married four years ago to Major (retd) Anwar Hussain Khawaja when she was just 17-years-old. According to the parents, since the marriage
• NICVD, AKUH collaborate to save child from a type of inherited arrhythmia syndrome • Expert says rare surgical procedure is carried out by a few centres in US, Canada KARACHI: Amidst a constant flow of distressing news emerging from their hometown in flood-hit Multan, Sajid Hussain and his wife Samina find some solace when they look at their son Ayan today without feeling a surge of anxiety. The five-year-old suffering from a potentially
A MIX of natural calamities, terrorism and bureaucratic ineptitude has resulted in difficulties for students in KP’s Khyber tribal district. In fact, the situation in Khyber reminds us of the disruptions in education that tens of thousands of school-age children face across Pakistan because of floods and militancy. As reported, some prefabricated schools in Khyber, which were built to replace educational facilities damaged by militants, are lying unused, mainly because of bottlenecks created by
ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka is set to indict accused Omar Hayat in the murder case of teenage TikToker Sana Yousaf on Sept 20. During Saturday’s hearing, police presented the accused in court. The judge handed over copies of the challan to him and announced the date for his formal indictment. The case was registered at Sumbal Police Station. Earlier, the prime suspect had recorded a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Criminal
RAHIM YAR KHAN: The district administration has opted for a unique approach to compensate a child who lost his family during the recent floods. According to details, Muhammad Rehan was saved by rescuers when the boat carrying him, along with his mother and sister, capsized during evacuations in Mouza Noorwala in Liaquatpur tehsil on Sept 8. However, Rehan’s only remaining immediate family, his mother Rafia Bibi and sister Ruqaiya Bibi, could not survive the
RAWALPINDI: With divorce rates climbing in Rawalpindi, the number of estranged children meeting their separated parents and relatives has risen sharply, creating pressure on the child meeting facility at the Judicial Complex. Where once such meetings occurred two to three times a week, they are now held daily. Each family judge sets aside specific “meeting days” for parents engaged in divorce proceedings. The Family Meeting Centre in charge said that between 38 and 70