ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Feb 11 issued notices to the federal government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), seeking a comprehensive report by March 3 on measures to regulate minors’ access to social media. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir directed the respondents to submit para-wise comments highlighting age-verification mechanisms, progress on establishing the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, draft regulatory measures and enforcement steps against non-compliant
Child Rights in Focus
LAHORE: Child marriage is now a non-bailable crime in Punjab, with offenders facing up to seven years in prison and Rs1 million fine under a sweeping new ordinance promulgated by Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan here on Wednesday. Issued as the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, the law comes into immediate effect across the province, replacing the nearly century-old Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929. Promulgated under Article 128(1) of the Constitution while
RAWALPINDI: All education boards have increased the fee charged to students for the installation of CCTV cameras at examination centres from Rs30 to Rs1,030 for the Intermediate annual examinations scheduled for May 2026. The fee has been added to the examination entry charges, leaving students and parents alarmed by the sudden and steep increase. Previously, for the Matriculation annual examinations, students were charged Rs30 each for CCTV installation. The sharp rise to Rs1,030 for
PESHAWAR: In a move to eliminate organised begging networks across the province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on February 9 approved the ‘Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill’ for presentation before the provincial cabinet for consent. He described the proposed legislation a historic and transformative step, saying the bill is aimed at dismantling the “beggar mafia” while adopting a rights based and rehabilitative approach for genuine victims of poverty and coercion, according toa statement
ISLAMABAD: While around a million children were missed during the year’s first nationwide polio campaign, Karachi stood out among the cities with most number of refusal cases. A total of 53,000 refusals were reported from across the country, with 58 per cent reported from Karachi alone, during the vaccination drive, which concluded on Feb 5 in most cities but ran till Feb 8 in Sindh. During the campaign, polio drops were administered to more
Islamabad: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has carried out a major operation, arresting a suspect allegedly involved in online child grooming and sexual exploitation. According to official sources, the arrest was made on February 4 and a case has been registered against the accused on the complaint of the state. The suspect has been identified as Taimur Mahmood, who faces serious charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. Investigations reveal that
Rawalpindi: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi has completed genetic testing for 139 patients from 91 families with inherited eye conditions, marking one year since opening Pakistan’s first genetic testing lab dedicated to eye disorders. The lab, launched in January 2025, assists doctors in identifying genes that cause inherited vision loss. These conditions affect roughly eight million people globally. Pakistan’s genetic eye disease burden is substantially higher than the global rate though no official
TAXILA: At least five people were injured in a suspected rabid dog attack in the village of Hameed of Hazro town on February 8, exposing the alarming failure of local authorities to curb the growing menace of stray dogs despite repeated complaints from residents. The injured have been identified as Khalid Khan, 53, Ameer Muawiya, 17, Inayat Ullah, 10, Muhammad Ayan, 8, and Ahmed, 4, who sustained bite injuries when the dog went on
TAXILA: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has announced that a maternity and child healthcare hospital will be established in Fatehjang during a public gathering held in connection with the inauguration of a water filtration plant at the village Diurnal near Fatehjang. Highlighting clean drinking water as a fundamental necessity, Mr Khan said the newly-inaugurated filtration plant would provide safe and quality water to local residents and help reduce waterborne diseases. The ceremony was
KARACHI: The Sindh College Education Department has imposed a complete ban on photography in government girls’ colleges across the province, warning that any violation could lead to disciplinary or legal action. According to an official notification, college principals have been formally informed of the decision and directed to strictly enforce the ban. The move follows an advisory issued by the Sindh special secretary for colleges on the basis of which the regional director of
The UN Child Rights Committee has issued its findings on the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Pakistan on Feb 5, 2026 following its latest review session. The findings contain the Committee’s main concerns and recommendations on implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1989. The Committee welcomed progress on birth registration, including fee waivers in some provinces, but remained seriously concerned about the high number of unregistered children.
LAHORE: Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed the officials concerned to ensure transparency in the CM Children’s Heart Surgery Programme besides improving the quality of service and providing excellent monitoring for the convenience of patients. He issued this direction while addressing an important meeting at Punjab Health Initiative Management Company regarding the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme. Khawaja Salman Rafique said in the meeting that the Punjab government has achieved great