In an age where generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, the education systems of most developing countries remain trapped in an outdated, industrial-age framework. The model still in use today was designed over two centuries ago, during the Industrial Revolution, to produce compliant workers – clerks, factory
The Climate Risk Index 2025 shows that from 1993–2022, over 765,000 people died and nearly USD 4.2 trillion in losses occurred due to more than 9,400 extreme weather events. Dominica, China, and Honduras were the most affected countries long-term, while Pakistan, Belize, and Italy ranked highest for 2022.
SHEHLA completed her Master’s degree in economics last year and started teaching at a private school in her neighbourhood. She feels she will not be staying in the job for long. Her salary is only Rs20,000 per month. She thinks she will be married soon and might not
Pakistan’s education sector showed steady progress between 2022–23 and 2023–24, with enrolment rising by 4.8% to 47.87 million and nearly one million fewer out-of-school children. Most gains were driven by girls, narrowing the gender gap, while provincial performance varied across the country. The analysis highlights the need to
THE world rightly sees child domestic workers as modern slaves, while domestic labour is categorised as informal work, or invisible labour. In July 2022, a qualitative study by the International Labour Organisation revealed that one in every four Pakistani households employs a minor, showing a predominance of girls
The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) advanced major child protection reforms in 2024–2025, including the drafting of the Prohibition of Child Labour in Domestic Work Bill 2024 and advocacy for harmonizing the minimum marriage age at 18 years across all provinces. The Commission launched the
When little Sana, a shy 12-year-old from Karachi, walked into her school’s assembly hall last week, she thought it was just another health drive. But when she returned home later that day, proudly showing her vaccination card to her mother, she had unknowingly taken a step that could
The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) highlights that education is a fundamental right, yet 26.2 million children in Pakistan remain out of school. The policy brief identifies key barriers such as poverty, gender inequality, poor infrastructure, and lack of inclusivity, offering actionable policy and practice
The concerns regarding forced conversion are not a new phenomenon in our part of the world. Almost a century ago the All India Muslim League chalked out the rules for conversion in this region. The All India Muslim League adopted a resolution in December, 1927 at Calcutta which
THE Sindh government’s recent plan to outsource school education through public-private partnerships (PPPs) has sparked a new debate. While the move is being portrayed as a step towards improving quality, it raises more concerns than confidence. Punjab has already adopted a similar model, and Sindh has tried partial
Children make up nearly half of Pakistan’s population, yet remain the most overlooked in climate planning. From school closures during floods and heatwaves to rising health risks, child labour, and unsafe displacement, climate change is undoing vital development gains for millions. Despite numerous policies, child-focused action remains missing.
Pakistan is home to over 53 million boys under 18, forming a significant part of its 106 million child population. Yet, challenges remain acute: nearly 27% of boys aged 5–16 are out of school, and an estimated 3.4 million children are engaged in child labour, with boys forming