ISLAMABAD: A rapid assessment of 120 girls’ schools in Swat district, carried out by Unesco, has revealed widespread damage to roofs, walls, and basic water and sanitation facilities, and called for a climate-resilient recovery to keep students learning safely. In a bid to restore safe learning environments, Unesco launched a rapid education infrastructure damage and climate resilience assessment across 120 government primary schools in four flood-affected areas of Swat. It found that more than 12,000 girls
Child Rights in Focus
TOBA TEK SINGH: As many as five accused were arrested for allegedly raping minors in separate cases from different areas of Faisalabad. In one case, the Mureedwala Police arrested a prayer leader of the village mosque for raping a 15-year-old girl and blackmailing her for 18 months. The victim’s uncle in his complaint to the police claimed that his niece was learning the Holy Quran from the accused’s wife, who forcibly raped her and
ISLAMABAD: Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be formally taught in schools and colleges of Islamabad from the upcoming academic session starting in April this year. According to the National Curriculum Council, students from class six to eight will be given a choice for opting either for computer science or AI. From class 9 to 12, students can opt for AI as an elective subject. Similarly, students from nursery to class 5 will be taught AI
HYDERABAD: A 12-member medical board has examined a young girl who was admitted to the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) for reconstructive surgery after she was subjected to a brutal attack in the Chhotiarioon (also known as Chhotiari) area of Sanghar district on Jan 21. She had suffered grave injuries on different parts of her face and is now under treatment at LUH’s Plastic & Burns Ward. The medical board comprises professors, associate professors and
This policy brief focuses on the child protection needs and lived experiences of migrant and forcibly displaced children in Pakistan. It draws on recent research conducted by UNICEF Pakistan and UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, in collaboration with the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) and the social enterprise Samuel Hall. The research examines internally displaced Pakistani children, Afghan child migrants, and forcibly displaced children, with particular
The State of the World’s Children 2025 warns that global progress in reducing child poverty is slowing and risks reversal due to conflict, climate shocks, debt pressures and deep cuts in development aid. About 412 million children live in extreme monetary poverty, while 417 million face severe deprivation in basic needs such as education, health, water and sanitation. South Asia – including Pakistan, which faces recurring climate disasters, economic stress and service gaps –
Matriculation and intermediate examinations in Sindh have long been rampant with allegations of bribery-related corruption, mismanagement and thriving cheating networks. And it seems that the Sindh government is least bothered about reforms at a foundational level, instead engaging in rolling out modern initiatives that are akin to concealing real issues. Just recently, Sindh has introduced a new grading system for matriculation and intermediate levels similar to that of the Cambridge Board. Marks will now
KARACHI: The first case of rabies was reported in Karachi in 2026 as an eight-year-old girl from Sanghar district was diagnosed with the deadly disease on Monday. The child developed severe rabies symptoms nearly six weeks after she was bitten by a stray dog. She was subsequently shifted to Indus Hospital in Korangi where doctors confirmed the disease. At the hospital, Rabies Prevention Clinic Manager Aftab Gohar said the child had received inadequate treatment at multiple
KARACHI: In view of the prevailing cold weather, the Sindh School Education Department has extended the decision to start schools at 9am until February 4. According to notification issued by Secretary School Education Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi, stated that all public and private schools across the province would continue to open at 9am until February 4. Earlier, under a notification issued on January 10, the revised school timings were applicable until January 26; however, the decision
RAWALPINDI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) carried out two major operations in the twin cities, arresting a suspect accused of exploiting children and dismantling a gang behind Rs20 million in online fraud, officials said on Sunday. In the first case, the NCCIA conducted a raid at a residence in Islamabad’s PWD area and arrested a suspect identified as Shoaib for allegedly circulating obscene videos of a minor. Two mobile phones were recovered
Earlier this month, a newborn baby was found abandoned in a garbage bin in Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Town. Police have been informed, and legal proceedings are expected, though the baby’s condition remains undisclosed. For a society that claims reverence for life, the image of a newborn discarded among refuse should have triggered outrage. Instead, it has been met largely with weary resignation. What makes this incident especially disturbing is that it is no longer
RAWALPINDI: A 14-year-old girl who went missing from Rawalpindi’s Dhok Hassu area earlier this week was found murdered on Saturday, police said. The sack-packed body of the girl, identified as Misbah, was recovered from Ladies Park on Carriage Factory Road, within the jurisdiction of Ratta Amral police station. According to a police spokesperson, senior officers, including the SSP Operations, SSP Investigation and SP Rawal, reached the spot along with a police contingent. The body