The Sindh Child Labour Survey (SCLS) 2022-24 is the first survey in Sindh to provide district-level data on child labour, covering 61,859 households across 29 districts. It offers insights into children’s living conditions, schooling, work, chores, and leisure, and follows SIMPOC’s international methodology adapted for Sindh. The survey
Pakistan’s educational institutions are facing a growing public health and child protection crisis due to increasing drug use among students. The Pakistan Narcotics Control Board (PNCB) estimates that nearly 44% of college and university students have used illicit substances. With nearly two-thirds of the population under 30, this
These ‘zero-dose’ children – those who have not received any vaccinations In the last five decades, vaccinations have granted life to an estimated 154 million children around the world. A study, published in prestigious British medical journal The Lancet, while touting this marvellous feat of modern medicine, is
AS our collective consciousness untangles itself from stories and headlines dense with ‘downed Rafale jets’ and ‘mun torr jawabs’, one must turn to recent Supreme Court judgements as a sobering reminder of how crucial the fight for social justice is. Deep within the shadows of societal shame is
This will have a profound impact on long-term outcomes It is not just flooding or other disasters that are taking a toll on our schoolchildren. Increasing extreme weather events are making school a dangerous place to be for several weeks out of the year. The searing classrooms of
The highlights of the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 showcase economic improvements, including a projected GDP growth of 5.7% and a primary surplus of 3.0% of GDP. Inflation has reached a record low of 0.3% in April 2025, while the current account surplus stands at $1.9 billion, bolstered by
ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 marks a pivotal step toward a safer, progressive Pakistan KARACHI. Child rights organisations and advocates, along with concerned citizens, have warmly welcomed the passage of recent legislation on child marriages, describing it as a landmark step toward protecting the rights and well-being
CHILD marriage persists in Pakistan for many reasons, and ending the practice requires measures that are sensitive to the problem’s complexity. Debates on child marriage tend to reduce this complexity to two opposing legal positions. Proponents of gender equality and child welfare support higher minimum age limits for
Measles is not a new disease. Nor is its prevention a mystery. The future of any nation rests in the hands of its children — a truth so self-evident, it should never need repeating. Yet in Pakistan, and particularly in Sindh, we are reminded all too often that the
The number of polio cases recorded this year continues to tick up, with the ninth and tenth cases confirmed this week. After several years of bouncing between double-digit caseloads and then coming within touching distance of eradication, Pakistan remains a concern for international bodies and donors — and many
With no vaccination drive conducted this year, the latest outbreak continues to threaten the safety of children KARACHI: The future of a nation relies heavily on the health and well-being of its children, who must be protected from childhood diseases through rigorous vaccination drives. Unfortunately, in Sindh, where
The keyword in autism spectrum disorder isn’t ‘autism’, it’s spectrum. Autism isn’t one thing — it’s a wide range of experiences, strengths, and challenges. Some autistic children speak fluently; others may be nonverbal. No two are alike. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting how a person communicates, relates