KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has termed unchecked population growth one of Pakistan’s most serious social and economic challenges, stressing the need for sustained, evidence-based family planning policies to secure the country’s future. He was addressing the launch ceremony of Pakistan’s largest and most comprehensive social and behavioural change campaign (SBCC) on family planning at the Hindu Gymkhana, NAPA Auditorium, on January 30. Titled “Waqfa ”, the campaign will be run
Child Rights in Focus
ISLAMABAD: Despite the global rise of alternative nicotine products, a 2026 Gallup & Gilani Pakistan poll reveals that awareness of electronic cigarettes and vaping remains remarkably low in Pakistan, with only 17 percent of the adult population having heard of the technology. This lack of familiarity is shaped by significant demographic divides, most notably a sharp 31 point gap between educational tiers; while 43 percent of those with higher education are aware of vaping,
ABBOTTABAD: The Abbottabad Bench of the Peshawar High Court has disposed of a writ petition challenging the election of the Governing Body of Idara Tadreesul Quran orphanage Abbottabad, while issuing an extensive set of binding directives aimed at strengthening oversight, transparency and child welfare standards in orphanages across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. A division bench comprising Justice Sadiq Ali and Justice Syed Muddasir Ameer heard the petition filed by Ghulam Mustafa Khan Jadoon, who had sought to
LAHORE: Three officials of the contractor working on the project were arrested on January 29 in the wake of the death of a young mother and her minor daughter after their fall into an open manhole of the under-construction Data Darbar extension project. Those arrested for their negligence were identified as project manager Asghar Sindhu, safety in-charge Daniyal and site in-charge Ahmed Nawaz. Lahore Operations SSP Muhammad Tauqir confirmed that the suspects nominated in
TAXILA: A court in Taxila on January 29 sentenced two persons involved in the murder of a newborn baby girl to a combined 34 years of imprisonment along with fines amounting to Rs80,000. According to the verdict, the prime accused Zulfiqar was awarded 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for murder, five years’ and a fine of Rs10,000 under Section 496-B, and two years’ imprisonment with a fine of Rs30,000 under Sections 109 and 329 of
KARACHI: For the first time in Sindh, a total of Rs18.63 billion has been released to public schools under a “School-Specific Budget” initiative, following an approval by the provincial government. The step has been taken to administratively empower government education institutions by devolving budgetary authority to the school level. Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah stated that the funds had already been transferred to schools and emphasised that civil society should also
KOT ADDU: Five school and college students riding two motorcycles were killed in a tragic road accident in Chowk Sarwar Shaheed in Kot Addu on Thursday. Police said the accident occurred on Layyah Road near Man Pump in the tehsil of Chowk Sarwar Shaheed. A speeding trailer, while attempting to overtake, rammed into two motorcycles carrying students. As a result, all five students riding the motorcycles died on the spot. The deceased include 13-year-old
The population of stray dogs in Karachi has been steadily increasing for quite a few years, with no humane plan of action in place to control it. Multiple attacks, injuries and deaths are reported every year, yet the government remains clueless in ensuring both prevention and timely treatment. This year, the first case of rabies was reported in an eight-year-old girl who failed to receive timely treatment and later succumbed to the disease, which has
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of missing manhole covers in the capital city have been posing a serious risk to citizens. Just two years ago, a father and his son lost their lives after falling into an uncovered manhole in Sector I-10. Following the incident, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) swung into action and began covering such manholes in what appeared to be a knee-jerk response. However, after a few weeks, the authority almost shelved this important
CHARSADDA: A ninth-grade student was killed allegedly by a fellow student following a dispute over comments on a TikTok post at a private school here on January 28. The slain student has been identified as Salman. The victim’s brother, Shehzad lodged an FIR with Mandani police station, stating that he was informed that his brother had an altercation with another student at the school. Upon reaching the school, he found Salman engaged in a
Pakistan’s sixth and seventh periodic review before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), held in Geneva on January 15-16, 2026, marked an important moment of reflection and accountability, examining progress made since the previous review in 2016. More than a formal reporting obligation, the review provided an opportunity to examine how Pakistan is translating its commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified in 1990,
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on January 28 sought replies from the federal government and other authorities on a petition seeking a ban on the use of social media by children under the age of 16. LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition filed by Aliya Saleem and others through Advocate Shiza Qureshi on January 27. Justice Neelum observed that it was an important matter and a policy issue that should be