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
Child Rights in Focus
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.
ESCALATING incidents of violence against women, children and other vulnerable sections reflect a dire need to plug procedural gaps before enacting laws. The National Assembly has passed a new Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025, which aims to build “protection, relief and rehabilitation of women, men, transgender, children and any vulnerable person against domestic violence” in Islamabad. It sets broad parameters for the many forms of cruelty — physical and sexual to psychological
LAHORE: The School Education Department (SED) Punjab has directed all public and private schools to strictly follow security protocols to ensure student safety. In a notification, education officials across the province have been asked to verify and implement all previously instructed security arrangements without delay. The department emphasised that all security measures must be followed in letter and spirit to prevent any untoward incidents. Published in The NEWS on November 15, 2025.
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on Friday informed the National Assembly during the Question Hour that Pakistan has been ranked very low on the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI), placing 168th out of 193 countries. Pakistan was ranked 161 in 2020–21 and 164 in the HDI Report 2023–24. In the latest 2025 report, the country has slipped further to 168th. In a written reply to a question by Dr Shazia
LAHORE: The police failed to recover two minor sisters studying in Class VI and a young woman, who were allegedly abducted in two separate incidents occurring in different areas. As per the parents of the two minor sisters, the girls were going to school on November 13 when they were allegedly abducted in Manga Mandi area. The incident has caused serious concern among all the parents regarding the security of their school-going daughters as
RAWALPINDI: Following the new wave of terrorism and the recent suicide attack in Islamabad, the strictest security directives have been issued for all public and private colleges, universities, schools, and government educational institutions across the Rawalpindi division. Armed security guards have been declared mandatory for every university, college, and school. First aid, rescue, scouts, and girls guides training has been made compulsory for students of universities, colleges, and high schools. The Civil Defence Department
Sindh’s educational boards are set to recieve e-marking, scanning, and QR code software for matriculation and intermediate examinations. The official launch of e-marking system will take place on December 4 in Karachi, where heads of 29 educational boards from across the country and officials from the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) will be in attendance. The Federal Education Board will provide the Sindh educational boards with software related to e-marking, scanning, barcode, QR codes,
HYDERABAD: The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department has issued show-cause notices to headmasters of 15 government schools in Hyderabad, demanding explanations for alleged misuse of school-specific budget (SSB) funds during the current fiscal year 2025-26, up to October 30, 2025. The department has directed the concerned officials to respond within seven days, clarifying why disciplinary action should not be initiated under the Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) rules for violating budgetary protocols. The notices
WORLD Diabetes Day arrives as new research sheds light on the extent of discrimination Pakistanis living with diabetes encounter — including children who will eventually become part of a workforce unprepared to support them. The International Diabetes Federation’s latest survey, placing Pakistan at the top of global workplace bias, should alarm policymakers. That 68pc of employees with diabetes report negative treatment at work makes it not just a workplace issue, but a public health