ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on 24th January said Pakistan currently faced significant educational challenges, with over 26 million out-of-school children, one of the highest figures globally. Speaking at an event organised by planning ministry in connection with International Day of Education 2025, themed “Bridging the Education Divide: Linking Education to National and Economic Development,” in Islamabad. “Regional disparities, gender gaps, and socio-economic barriers further exacerbate the situation,”
Child Rights in Focus
KARACHI: Despite a ban on celebratory gunfire in the city, a six-year-old boy was shot dead when participants in a marriage ceremony fired gun(s) into the air in Surjani Town, on 24th January, said police. Two marriage party participants — a man and another six-year-old boy — were injured in the aerial gunfire. West-SSP Tariq Illahi Mastoi said that some person(s) resorted to firing during the marriage ceremony in Taiser Town, Sector-35-C. The stray
The festival, inaugurated by Muhammad Naeem, Director General of the PDA PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), in collaboration with UNICEF, on Friday organized a three-day food and cultural family festival at the Central Park in Regi Model Town here with a focus on addressing critical social issues, including child protection. The festival, inaugurated by Muhammad Naeem, Director General of the PDA, is also aimed at providing quality entertainment to Peshawar’s residents. The Directorate
RAWALPINDI: Wah Cantt police have arrested three teachers of a religious seminary for allegedly raping three minor students. The arrested accused were identified as Ali Akbar, Sameer and Siddiqui. The affected minors were medically examined at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Taxila. The Saddar Wah police Station registered a case under section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) following the outcome of the initial medical reports and began a detailed investigation. According to
A local court on 24 January 2025 sent a teenage girl, who was allegedly kidnapped from Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area and later recovered from Naushehro Feroze, to a shelter home. The court also remanded a suspect arrested in connection with her alleged abduction in police custody for interrogation. The girl went missing after she had left her home in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 5 on the evening of January 16 to attend a Majlis at an imambargah.
LARKANA: Jubilations at a wedding ceremony in the Tunia locality of Warah town turned into mourning after celebratory firing left the bride’s 14-year-old brother dead on late 22nd January. Some guests at the ceremony were firing into the air in jubilation during which a stray bullet hit Hussain Ali Kumbhar, the bride’s brother. He was rushed to the taluka hospital and provided emergency treatment. Doctors referred him to a major hospital considering his critical
The provincial minister for education Syed Sardar Ali Shah and the minister for prisons Ali Hassan Zardari on 23-January-2025 in a meeting decided to empower convicted prisoners’ kids through education. Officials said that the Sindh government has decided to formulate a plan to assist the children of convicted prisoners in completing their education. In a joint meeting chaired by the Sindh minister for education Syed Sardar Ali Shah and the minister for prisons Ali
PESHAWAR: About 62 underage children were rescued and 133 professional beggars were arrested during a crackdown against organized begging networks on 23-January-2025. Conducted under the supervision of Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud under the directives of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, the campaign aims to rehabilitate vulnerable individuals while dismantling mafias exploiting them for financial gain. The children were shifted to Zamung Kor welfare centres in Hayatabad and Charsadda Road, receiving
Islamabad: The Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) and the Data and Research in Education – Research Consortium (DARE-RC) jointly hosted a policy dialogue on ‘Initiating an Early Warning System (EWS) to Identify Students at Risk of Dropout’ here. The event brought together policymakers, education experts, and key stakeholders to address Pakistan’s pressing issue of school dropouts. Additional Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education Hassan Saqlain participated as the chief guest. Discussions revolved around
The investigation into the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a seven-year-old boy, Sarim, in North Karachi has been handed back to the concerned district police from the Anti-Violent Crime Cell. Subsequently, DIG West Irfan Ali has constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team to ensure a thorough probe into the case. DSP Fareed Ahmad will lead the SIT. According to SSP AVCC Aneel Haider, the cell typically handles cases of kidnapping for ransom. However, no
NAROWAL: A 14-year-old deaf girl was sexually assaulted by three youths. A Siddiqpura resident told police that his daughter left the house to buy biscuits from a nearby shop in the evening but did not return. When the family and neighbours started looking for her, they heard her cries from a house. As the door was knocked, the youth fled the scene. In the FIR, the complainant said the girl was kidnapped and rapped.
Experts urge community engagement to boost school enrolment rates ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a panel discussion titled ‘Women’s Education and Social Gains’ emphasised the need for community engagement to improve girls’ school enrolment rates. The panellists on the sidelines of ‘International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities’ highlighted the importance of women’s education for development, peace, security, and justice, calling on religious scholars, media and all stakeholders to play a pivotal