In both urban and rural parts of Rawalpindi, it is common to find children shouldering responsibilities far beyond their years. In villages, young boys can be seen working long hours in the fields beside their fathers and uncles. Meanwhile, girls—often no older than five or six—begin assisting their mothers with household chores, their small hands barely able to hold a ladle or scrub a pot. “For many families, child labour is not a choice,
Child Rights in Focus
PESHAWAR: The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of health department on November 17 launched 12 days province-wide vaccination campaign to protect children from measles and rubella (MR). The inaugural ceremony was attended by Health Minister Khaleequr Rehman, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Information Shafiullah Jan, Information Secretary Bakhtiar Khan, Director General Health Dr Shahid Yunis, EPI Director Dr Asghar Khan, Unicef health team lead Dr Inamullah Khan, Director
LAHORE: Hundreds of aspiring teachers across Punjab are facing frustration and the risk of missing a crucial career opportunity as the official online portal for applying to 15,146 vacant school teacher intern (STI) posts remains non-functional, just days before the application deadline. The candidates have reported that the STI Portal (https://sti.pesrp.edu.pk), the only channel to apply for the positions, has been consistently ‘down’ or ‘not working’, preventing them from completing their applications. “I have
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) was informed on November 17 that the Mayo Hospital received over 1,700 dog-bite cases during the last 14 months. A report submitted by an additional medical superintendent (AMS) of the hospital says that its accident and emergency department treated 1,796 patients,including children, who suffered dog bites, since Sept 24, 2024. The report was filed during the hearing of a petition filed by Young Doctors Association (YDA) Secretary General
BAHAWALPUR: Khairpur Tamewali police in Hasilpur tehsil claimed that an alleged abductor and murderer of a four-year-old boy was killed during an “encounter”, in the firing by his own accomplices, near Khairpur, about 45kms from here. According to police spokesperson, Abdul Hadi (4), son of Arif Shah, a resident of Bahawalnagar, came to visit his grandfather at Basti Salim Shah near Lal Sohanra, a few days ago. On Nov 14, the child was playing
ISLAMABAD: After completion of civil and renovation work, 35 more schools will be handed over to the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) this week as the missing facilities project nears completion. Officials of the education ministry and FDE said out of 167 schools, work has been completed in 71, while 35 more will be completed this week. They added that work is simultaneously under way in the remaining 61 schools, which will be completed
• Local political activists put their heads together after first case of infection confirmed in 18-month-old girl • Over 15 HIV cases found after Valika Hospital administration persuaded to screen children treated there • Govt official says health dept ‘focusing’ on treatment and prevention KARACHI: A serious health crisis, involving children as young as one year, is brewing in the impoverished and densely-populated neighbourhood of SITE Town where more than 15 children have been
LAHORE: The phrase “climate change” usually brings to mind flooded plains, destroyed crops and lost livelihoods. Yet the true victims of natural calamities are the children whose hopes for the future are washed away by melting glaciers. Fourteen-year-old Ayesha has witnessed climate disasters terrible enough to drain the colours of life from her eyes. Standing on the rooftop of her home in Lahore’s Theme Park area, she looks toward the sky, not to find
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has passed a proposed legislation to “address and significantly” reduce domestic violence in the Islamabad Capital Territory by establishing a comprehensive legal framework to protect the victims. The bill, approved on November 13 along with four other bills, was criticised by the JUI-F lawmakers, who questioned the haste with which the proposed legislation had been passed. The bill, which was tabled by Sharmila Farooqui of the PPP, is now required to be
BAJAUR: Health officials on November 15 revealed that the measles infection had claimed the lives of seven children and infected 550 others during the recent outbreak in Bajaur. In this season [winter] seven children have died and 550 others were infected by measles in Bajaur recently, said Dr Hayat Afridi, acting district health officer, while speaking to media during the inauguration ceremony of the 14-day anti- measles and rubella campaign. Dr Hayat Afridi, who
KARACHI: The Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC) has permanently sealed Shah Medical Centre in North Nazimabad after repeated violations, including the illegal operation of the hospital, endangering critically ill patients, and attacking government officials enforcing prior closure orders. The move comes two days after authorities partially closed the hospital following the death of a new-born girl and subsequent complaints from her family. An SHCC expert panel had found the hospital guilty of negligence and
KARACHI: A teenage boy died by suicide in a Saddar locality on November 14, police said. Preedy SHO Ayub Mirani said that Shoaib, 16, ended his own life by shooting himself at his home on Akbar Road near DC Street. He said the parents of the boy had gone to attend a wedding in the area while their son was home alone. The teenager used his father’s licensed pistol to take the extreme step.