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Articles by Myra Imran
Reusable bags given to Pak-EPA
Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination speaks during a seminar on April 22, 2025. — Facebook@Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad . Islamabad:The Collect and Recycle (CoRe) Alliance called for a harmonised, phased and inclusive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to strengthen Pakistan’s waste management and recycling systems and advance the country’s transition towards a circular economy.
HEC briefs NA body on improvement of universities in global ranking
Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, briefs the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training at its 27th meeting at the HEC Secretariat on November 3, 2026.
Initiative launched to develop skilled workers for Chinese projects
An image from the inauguration of the ‘Zhihui Hai’ Pakistan Local HR & Skilled Talent Training Programme, on October 28, 2026. — [email protected] Islamabad:A programme has been launched to develop a skilled local workforce for Chinese-invested projects in Pakistan.
Conference calls for rural women’s rights, equal opportunities
Participants pose for a group photo at the 19th Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference on October 29, 2026. — [email protected] Islamabad:On the concluding day of the Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference organized by the Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA), around 2,000 women leaders representing 120 districts from across the country, including the four provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, adopted a resolution spotlighting their key priorities.
Bench Book launched to strengthen adjudication of rape cases in Pakistan
Justice Ayesha A Malik addressing an event on October 27, 2026. — Facebook@mohrpak Islamabad: The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR), in collaboration with the Legal Aid Society (LAS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched the Bench Book on the Adjudication of Rape Cases for judges of Gender-Based Violence Courts in Islamabad.
World Snow Leopard Day marked
Participants hold a banner to mark the International Day of the Snow Leopard at FAST University in Islamabad on October 23, 2026. — Facebook@pamirtimesurdu Islamabad:The Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) Pakistan marked the International Day of the Snow Leopard at FAST University in Islamabad on Friday, in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and the university. Environment experts, faculty members and students attended the event.
Pakistan, Maldives sign MoUs to boost academic cooperation
Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar is seen in a group photo on October 21, 2026.
BISP, UN Women, WFP vow gender-responsive social protection
Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of BISP, is seen during a signing ceremony between BISP, UN Women and WFP on October 19, 2026.
Study findings launched on ‘Safeguarding and GBV financing’
Dr Shahida Rehmani, Member of the National Assembly and Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, speaks during an event. — Facebook@ShahidaRehmani786/File Islamabad:The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of the National Assembly of Pakistan, in collaboration with the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub (RSH) Pakistan, launched the summary findings of the Safeguarding and Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Financing Study on Tuesday.
Pak prisons hold 110,513 inmates, 75pc awaiting trial: report
Representational image shows prisoners sitting inside a dark lockup. — AFP/File Islamabad:As many as 110,513 people are imprisoned across Pakistan, with three out of every four prisoners awaiting trial and more than 28,000 imprisoned under drug-related laws, says the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Justice Project Pakistan’s report, “Annual Prison Data 2026” launched on Thursday.
MoU inked to strengthen cybersecurity in higher education
An image from an MOU signing ceremony between the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) of Pakistan on October 1, 2026.
Pakistan’s first MCWG launched to unlock women’s economic participation
An image from the launch of Pakistan’s first Multi-Sectoral Care Working Group (MCWG), inaugurated by the Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Human Rights, in partnership with UN Women, on October 2, 2026.
MoU inked to strengthen cybersecurity in higher education
Chairman, HEC, Prof. Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, presents during MOU signing ceremony between HEC and National CERT on October 1, 2026. — Facebook@HECPakistan2002 Islamabad:The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and The National Cyber, Emergency Response Team (National CERT) of Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cybersecurity cooperation, coordination, and resilience across Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Militant attacks surge to 12-year high in September
Army soldiers gather at the site following militant attacks in Quetta, Pakistan, on January 31, 2026. — Reuters Islamabad:Pakistan recorded its highest monthly number of militant attacks in 12 years during September 2026, while kidnappings linked to militant incidents reached their highest monthly level in a decade. The monthly death toll among security forces personnel was also the second-highest recorded during the past 12 months and the third-highest in a decade.
Constructive journalism approach needed to report climate issues
An image from a three-day workshop, “Constructive journalism” organised by the Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA) on September 21, 2026. — Facebook@IRADAPK Islamabad:“Constructive journalism is an editorial approach that goes beyond reporting with the “if it bleeds, it leads” culture so that audiences get the full story, not just half the picture.
Documentary highlights fight against separate electorate
Participants at the screening of the Hum Juda Nahin (We Are Not Separate) documentary on September 12, 2026. — Screengrab via YouTube@TheBlackHoleOfficial Islamabad:The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) screened its documentary A Separation Refused, highlighting the historic struggle against Pakistan’s separate electorate system and the campaign for restoration of the joint electorate.
Partnership signed to expand financing for women, underserved communities
An image from a signing ceremony between PMIC and BII on September 10, 2026. — Facebook@PakistanMicrofinanceInvestmentCompanyPMIC Islamabad:Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC) and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, have partnered to unlock up to $30 million of additional lending through PMIC’s portfolio, supported by a $15 million risk-sharing facility from BII.
Pakistan needs to finance measurable clean-air results
Commuters make their way amid smog on November 2, 2024. — AFP Islamabad:On the seventh International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, Fair Finance Pakistan (FFP) in collaboration with the University of California and Davis Air Quality Research Center (AQRC) called for Pakistan to move from policy ambition to time-bound, financed implementation of the National Clean Air Policy (NCAP).
August sees surge in militancy, fall in suicide attacks
Firefighter douses a vehicle after a blast outside a court building in Islamabad on November 11, 2025. — Reuters Islamabad:The number of militant attacks increased significantly in August despite sustained counter-terrorism pressure but the human impact of militant attacks declined compared with July.
Civil society condemns PIMS tragedy, demands accountability
Police officers move past an ambulance outside an intensive care unit after a fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad on August 26, 2026. — Reuters Islamabad:Civil society has strongly condemned the tragic deaths of 14 innocent infants following a fire that broke out in the Child ICU ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in the early hours of August 26.
‘Around 20,000 people commit suicide every year in Pakistan’
A representational image showing a woman experiencing stress.
Militant attacks, security operations make July deadliest month of 2026
Soldiers patrol amid a military operation on July 9, 2014. — AFP/File Islamabad : Violence linked to militant attacks and counter-militancy operations intensified sharply in July, making it the deadliest month of 2026, with at least 606 people killed and 232 injured across the country.
NAHE-HEC concludes Faculty Development Programme for PhDs
Chairman HEC, Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar addresses the National Faculty Development Programme (NFDP) Cohort-IX for Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP) Fellows on July 31, 2026.
Pakistan’s first gender-responsive AI school launched
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, addresses an event. — APP/File Islamabad:The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), together with UN Women Pakistan and with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched the UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School Pakistan, aimed at advancing inclusive, ethical, and gender-responsive artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan.
Punjab emerges as GBV hotspot with 74pc of reported cases
A representational image of a woman being subjected to physical abuse. — Pixabay/File Islamabad:A total of 3,172 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were reported across the country during the first six months of 2026, with Punjab accounting for nearly three-quarters of all cases, according to a report released by Sahil.
Experts discuss development budget with lens of human consequences
Representational image of a person sorting coins. — Unsplash/File Islamabad:Experts at a dialogue on development budgets and its human consequences stressed the need to move beyond traditional approaches of measuring progress through financial allocations and instead focus on the real impact of public spending on people’s lives.
Militant violence witnesses 16pc decline in June
Security personnel stand guard outside a mosque following an explosion in Islamabad on February 6, 2026. — AFP Islamabad:Despite several high-profile attacks, Pakistan witnessed a decline in overall anti-state violence and related security incidents during June 2026, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank monitoring militancy, anti-state violence and related security trends.
Electric buses and smog relief
mog has become a tragic marker of Lahore’s winter. Every year, the city of over 13 million residents turns grey with pollutants blurring its skyline. Every year a number of people, including children, end up in hospitals reporting respiratory problems. The provincial government has faced its fair share of criticism for its failure to address the issue and provide relief. This year, too, the authorities have been sharing mitigation strategies to cope with the smog.
GBV report sheds light on underreporting, institutional gaps
Islamabad: The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) has released its latest report titled: ‘District Analysis of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 2024,’ shedding light on widespread underreporting, significant institutional gaps and negligible conviction rates across high-risk districts in two of Pakistan’s most underserved provinces.
Partnerships between stakeholders imperative for better AI policy in Pakistan
Islamabad:Participants of a stakeholders' dialogue stressed that despite governments’ intention to develop policies for emerging technologies, there is still a long way to go for Pakistan to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape. They expressed these views in a stakeholder dialogue organized on AI by the Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA) with technical assistance of International Media Support (IMS).
Friends of BISP pledge support for Benazir Hunarmand Programme
Islamabad:In a major move toward sustainable poverty alleviation, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is set to launch the Benazir Hunarmand Programme (BHP)—a first-of-its-kind skills development initiative for BISP beneficiaries and their families. In this regard, BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid and Secretary Amer Ali Ahmad hosted a high-level consultative workshop on Tuesday.
Plane crash survivor Zafar Masud shares lessons on life, healing in new memoir
Islamabad : Zafar Masud, President and CEO of The Bank of Punjab, officially launched his memoir “Seat 1C: A Survivor’s Tale of Hope, Resilience, and Renewal” during a special edition of ‘Breakfast with Jang’ on Saturday. The book recounts his extraordinary journey as one of only two survivors of the tragic 2020 plane crash, offering readers a deeply personal narrative of trauma, reflection, and transformation.
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus discusses budget from gender responsive budgeting lens
Islamabad:Members of Parliament, experts and civil society representatives gave suggestions and policy recommendations to improve gender equality through better use of public funds, at a routable organised by the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus under the leadership of Dr. Shahida Rehmani on the Federal Budget 2025-26.
Housewives term budget nothing but number game
Islamabad:For Pakistani housewives, the Federal Budget 2025-26 is nothing more than a numbers game - a series of figures and promises that barely addresses their daily struggles. Despite the government’s announcements, the reality on the ground remains unchanged: making ends meet is a constant battle for them. In conversations with ‘The News’, many housewives expressed their disappointment and frustration with the budget, feeling it offered little to no relief from the soaring household expenses.
NCSW campaign for law on minimum marriage age
Islamabad:In view of the increasing trend of child marriage and its serious consequences, NCSW along women's right organisations has launched a comprehensive campaign across the country. Addressing a press conference, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) Chairperson Ume Laila Azhar applauded the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025, she said that after Sindh, it is welcomed that the minimum age for marriage of girls in Islamabad is 18 years.
May sees modest uptick in militant attacks in Pakistan: PICSS report
PICSS report indicates 5% increase in attacks compared to April. May records 85 militant attacks resulting in 113 fatalities. Overall death toll for May attacks stands at 172. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan saw a slight uptick in militant attacks in May 2025, even as heightened military tensions with neighbouring India failed to trigger a significant escalation in violence from extremist groups.
‘Islamabad Gender Parity Report’ launched
Islamabad : Women's labour force participation in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) remains low at 22.5 per cent, says ‘Islamabad Gender Parity Report’ launched by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), along the Ministry of Human Rights and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report further says that girls outnumber boys in ICT public schools, but their representation declines in higher education and technical fields.
NCSW affirms support for ICT Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act
Islamabad:The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has taken note of the recent remarks made by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) regarding the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), which establishes the minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls at 18 years.
HRCP calls for repeal of PECA (Amendment) Act
Islamabad:A report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has underscored serious flaws in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) (Amendment) Act 2025 and called for the law to be repealed entirely without accepting any coercive application of the law's previous iterations from 2016 and 2023.
NCHR recommends 60-day timeline to complete challan of UTPs
Islamabad : National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has recommended an amendment in the law to give a timeline of 60 days for the submission of a complete challan of under trail prisoners (UTPs), except as otherwise extended by the court. The recommendation was made in a letter written by the NCHR Member Punjab Nadeem Ashraf to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab.
Comprehensive report on family-friendly workplace policies in Pakistan launched
ISLAMABAD: Highlighting the critical role of family-friendly policies in supporting the social sector, businesses, employees, and Pakistan’s broader economic growth, the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), UNICEF, and UN Women jointly launched a landmark report titled “Mapping Family-Friendly Workplace Policies in Pakistan,” on Monday.
Shortage of 1.3m nurses in country
Islamabad:Challenges faced by nurses in Pakistan - including high turnover, poor working conditions, and gender-based barriers to leadership - were highlighted at a national webinar organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to commemorate the International Nurses Day 2025.
Unesco holds multi-stakeholder dialogue for ethical, inclusive AI
Islamabad:In a concerted effort to promote the ethical and inclusive development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pakistan, Unesco organized a multi-stakeholder dialogue that gathered more than 25 experts and representatives from key sectors including relevant ministries, civil society, academia, and media. The dialogue was in relation to global commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2025, highlighting the critical intersection of AI, media freedom and journalist freedom.
Minorities show solidarity with armed forces
Islamabad : The Pakistan Minority Forum (PMF) and Pak Christian Business Forum organized a solidarity walk in front of the National Press Club to express support for the Pakistani armed forces and condemn Indian aggression. The event was attended by members of the minority community, who held banners and placards, raised slogans, and expressed their solidarity with the armed forces.
Abuse of 9 children reported daily in 2024
Islamabad:In the year 2024, a total of 3364 child abuse cases have been reported in the newspapers of four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), indicating abuse of 9 children per day during the last year. The alarming statistics were reported in Sahil’s annual ‘Cruel Number 2024’ released on Monday. The report is compiled every year based on the news reports published in the 81 different newspapers.
Fellowship on digital rights, gender inclusion announced for journalists
Islamabad: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), in collaboration with Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD), announced a training fellowship for journalists with an aim to strengthen the professional capacity of journalists to report on digital rights and internet governance through a gender-sensitive and rights-based lens.
Dialogue between govt, employer, worker key to industrial growth
ISLAMABAD: A national conference held in the federal capital to mark the Labour Day 2025 echoed a unified call for strengthening social dialogue as a foundation for industrial peace, fair labour practices and inclusive economic growth, stressing dialogue between the government, employers and workers essential for industrial development.
HRCP’s 2024 human rights report paints bleak picture
ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) launched its flagship annual report, ‘State of Human Rights in 2024’, on Wednesday, portraying a grim picture of the human rights landscape in the country. The report highlights democratic backsliding, systemic injustice, rising violence, and institutional neglect across multiple fronts.
Masterpieces of trio go on display at PNCA
Islamabad:In a world often rushing toward the future, three remarkable artists have paused to capture the fleeting, powerful instances that shape lives and societies. The exhibition ‘A Moment in Time,’ inaugurated Monday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with ForArtSake, invites visitors on a creative journey through memory, identity, and collective experience. The exhibition, featuring the works of Amna I.
Shocking GBV spike in Punjab
Islamabad:Lahore reported the highest number of rape cases, followed by Faisalabad and Kasur in the Punjab province as recorded by the district wise analysis of the gender based violence (GBV) incidences conducted by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO).
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