LAHORE: The Punjab government on November 25 imposed a province-wide ban on substandard buses and heavy vehicles used by all public and private schools, colleges, universities and hospitals in an anti-smog campaign from Dec 2. Despite anti anti-smog operations, Lahore recorded an average AQI of 200 on November 25, with levels spiking above 392 in the early hours. According to IQAir, air quality remained unhealthy as the PM2.5 concentration was higher than the WHO’s
Child Rights in Focus
ISLAMABAD: Over 4,150 cases of violence against children were reported in Punjab during the first six months of the current year, 2025. These figures have been released by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO). According to the NGO, 23 cases of child violence occur daily across Punjab. The fact sheet is based on district-level police data obtained through the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013. SSDO’s analysis shows that 4,150 child-related criminal
Online threats are rising, and our children are the easiest targets. Obun2 invites you to share how we can keep them safe online.
This powerful monologue, “Main Aik Bacha Hun” (I am a child), plunges into the harsh realities of a street child’s life, revealing their daily struggle with poverty, hunger, and exploitation, alongside the painful loss of their childhood and educational opportunities. The video call for collective action, emphasizing that it is our shared responsibility to secure these innocent lives their rights for a better future.
TAXILA: The district administration of Attock has intensified its crackdown on child labour, registering seven First Information Reports (FIRs) in recent weeks during inspections carried out across markets and industrial workshops, official data revealed on November 21. According to Labour Welfare Department records, the crackdown is part of the provincial government’s renewed drive to eliminate child exploitation and ensure that minors remain in school rather than in hazardous workplaces. Officials said the campaign has been
IN the developing world, teachers have a role that extends well beyond that of educators. The change that teachers bring about not only impacts their students’ academic attainment, it also has ripple effects on their students’ families in many ways. Education is a critical tool of social development and, as evidence shows, learning outcomes are strongly correlated to teacher quality. Our cultural and religious legacy also recognises the indelible impact of a teacher and
KARACHI: A sessions court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment in a case pertaining to the kidnapping and rape of a teenage girl. Additional District and Sessions Judge (Malir) Syed Ghous Ali Shah Jillani found Muhammad Kaleem guilty and sentenced him on two counts: 10-year imprisonment under Section 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under 14 years) and life term under Section 376 (rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code. “This case presents a
Violence against women remains among the most pervasive and least prosecuted human rights violations in the world. For decades, this violence occurred mainly in homes, workplaces, streets or institutions. Today, it has expanded into a new and far more complex frontier: the digital realm. As the country and the world mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25 and launch the 16 days of activism campaign, it is
Clinics on Wheels and the Rural Ambulance Service 1034, being operated by the Punjab Health Department in Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Kalar Syedan and Kahuta, as well as other districts of Punjab, are drawing public attention. The reason is that they deliver services in rural areas, making healthcare accessible. According to residents, it is remarkable that a team of doctors in a dedicated van, equipped with medicines and an ultrasound machine, arrives in a village
PESHAWAR: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has informed Peshawar High Court that 504 persons including 338 men, 76 women and 90 children lost lives during this year devastating monsoon flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The authority provided the information in its comments submitted to the high court in a petition filed for developing and implementing a comprehensive disaster management plan and providing adequate compensation and relief to victims of this year natural disasters in
KARACHI: Experts have warned that leaving children “at the mercy of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” could prove dangerous, urging parents and schools to prioritise AI literacy as technology becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life. The warning came during the 10th Adab Festival, which concluded on November 23 and featured its first-ever dedicated session on AI – a highlight of the two-day literary event. The AI-focused session included Sadaf Bhatti, Vice Principal of Happy Palace School,
RAWALPINDI: The Department of Education has resolved to commence the third phase of the privatisation of government schools in December this year. Under this phase, 4,500 primary, middle, and high schools are to be handed over to the private sector. To date, the privatisation of 12,500 schools has already been completed. Across the province, all schools — primary, middle, and high — with an enrolment of 100 students or fewer will be privatised without delay. Lists