Hazardous Child Labor
By Mahe Darakhshan: Children are the most beautiful and purest creation of God. Every morning we feel a special kind of joy and happiness, watching them going schools in different colorful uniforms. Unfortunately there are millions of innocent children, who cannot go to schools due to the financial problems, and being forced to kill their dreams and pushed forward to earn living for their families. They belong to that segment of the society who don’t have any … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, human rights, Labour
LET US RESOLVE TO END “CHILD SLAVERY”
By Riaz Ali Toori Be safe and protected from harm Be free from all stress and alarm Innocence of a child is a marvelous thing It’s their life’s early spring Compared to us children see life quite differently Of the guilt of corruption they are totally free Children are God’s blessings and every nation’s treasure. It’s our responsibility to keep this treasure safe and utilize it in the best way by changing them into wise guardians of their nation. So each and every child must be protected from the malaise of “Child labour” to let him enjoy his youth, full of divine innocence. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children
What are we teaching our children?
By Raza Rumi The overwhelming response to my earlier piece on the subject of jaundiced Pakistani textbooks has prompted me to continue with this theme. A large number of Pakistanis are aware of ideological twists given to basic learning materials in Pakistan. Of course, there are many who continue to be in denial and who insist that raising this issue is akin to defaming Pakistan. This strange logic — of accepting the ills of a society in the name of patriotism is simply incomprehensible. Perhaps ‘operation brainwashing’ has succeeded at many levels. Sceptical readers ask for examples. There is no point in repeating what the seminal study on the University of Vermont website already says. However, a key problem is locating Pakistan’s creation in a battle for Islam. Jinnah was ready to give up the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children
PAKISTAN: Child slavery — 20,000 children with small heads are run by the shrines for beggary
By Malik Ayub Sumbal No one knows about the reality and sad saga of these greenish veiled and shaved head individuals carried by their masters with a chain about their necks to get the sympathies of the masses for the sake of begging. The worst form of slavery in the name of religious tradition has become a common practice in Pakistan as no law and authority is ready to save these enforced mentally retarded slaves from their cruel masters and the beggar’s mafia. In Pakistan where such kind of examples of the worst inhuman attitude and behaviours is a routine matter no one dares to shed their tears on these issues. Slavery has been banned the world over but still in Pakistan human beings are made to be slaves for the shameful acts … Read entire article »
‘Reforming’ the education system
By Raza Rumi Pakistani students sit inside and on top of a rickshaw heading to their schools in Muzaffargarh in Punjab province, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. AP Photo The recent debates on education have also highlighted how the education sector is not receiving its due compared to say defence, infrastructure and other expenditures made by the government. However, the discussion has yet to move to the most important area i.e. quality of schools and what sort of learning are they providing? The task of reforming the education system is huge, complex and some would say next to impossible. However, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution has opened the doors to avenues for change. … Read entire article »
Congo’s Children With Pakistan’s Founder
PTH received this via email. Hope the readers would enjoy this story. Congo’s Children With Pakistan’s Founder Pakistani Blue Helmets In The African Nation Jinnah Public School is commonly known as the Jinnah School in this central African country. The Congolese students honor Pakistan once every year at the annual function by reciting the Pakistani national anthem. Some 4000 Pakistani civilians and soldiers are helping Congo-Kinshasa stand on its feet. MUHAMMAD USMAN | Thursday | 17 February 2011 | Pakistani Blue Helmets In Congo KINSHASA, Congo—I am serving with the UN mission in Democratic Republic of Congo. The contribution of Pakistani civilians and military in this country under the UN has earned a lot of respect for Pakistan. I have attached a recent photograph of JINNAH PUBLIC SCHOOL here … Read entire article »
Poem:The Hungry Face
” This poem was written to highlight the plight of children, far removed from education and comforts of home and confined to dreaded routines of existence” – The Daughter of Pakistan, in search for bread and water…….the quest continues and so her questions…. As she rests her soul against the pole The blistered feet and in tattered clothes The only place, where she can breathe The open fields and the crowded streets In search for bread and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, Education, Labour, Pakistan, poetry, poverty, psychology, Rights
Would-be suicide bomber flees militants
This item of news is from The News of 06 Jan 2010 – PTH BATKHELA: A would-be suicide bomber managed to escape from the captivity of militants and reached home in Khattakay area of Malakand Agency on Tuesday. “I don’t want to kill innocent people in bomb blast,’’ said the 14-year-old Shah Hussain, son of Alam Khan, while talking to reporters at the Malakand Levies post. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Al Qaeda, Children, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism
Bedtime Story, A Poem
by S.Mubashir Noor Silly goose, Mommy’s gonna tuck you in tight No monsters under the bed No bogeyman in sight And yes on the news, Those people were just playing dead Had a paint-ball fight, Guess they only used red God likes bowling too, And you’ve heard how loud that can be Those people running around Just had wish-lists for Him to read You get extra vacation, For being the good boy that you are And yes you can use their panic room To day-dream in the dark It’s just two brothers scuffling They don’t see eye-to-eye One seeks daddy’s approval, The other in him stick a hunting knife Each believes in the singularity of his purpose Point guns at each other in God’s name But God has left the building young one They’re just poster-children for the holy gravy train. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, New Writers, Pakistan, poetry, Society, violence
Bare necessities
By Aroosa Masroor Dawn, 04 Dec, 2009 DADU: Mehak Essa is content that she can now concentrate on her studies. Until two months ago, she spent most of her time calculating the minutes that would be wasted in walking all the way to her relative’s house each time she wanted to use a toilet. But now that her school has a separate toilet for girls, she says her mind is ‘at peace.’ … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, Education, Environment, Pakistan, poverty, Sindh, Women
Young Minds, Old Hatreds
F S Aijazzuddin, Principal Aitchison College, Lahore, wrote the following in February 2009 after a speech to 500 young Aitchisonians by the then outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan It was a fitting occasion for a farewell speech. The setting was a 122-year-old college for boys, established in Lahore at a time when the British intended to rule forever and to use the princes of the Punjab to perpetuate that rule. The speaker was the Indian High Commissioner, making his last formal speech in Pakistan before relinquishing charge. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, Education, India, Pakistan, Partition, Terrorism
Diya – a Hero's Daughter
Text & Photos by Fauzia Minallah Diya with her father Pervez Masih’s photograph Diya is only three, she is lost and has many questions about her father Pervez Masih. Pervez was a janitor at the International Islamic University. On the fateful day when IIU was attacked by suicide bombers, he was the hero who stopped the terrorist from entering the cafeteria for female students. Pervez lost his life, while saving the lives of more than 300 students. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Children, Citizens, human rights, minorities, Pakistan, poverty, Taliban, Terrorism
US Rotarians visit Institutes for special children
Rotarians Lon and Helen Penna from Rotary Club of Glenville, Rotary International District 7190, New York, USA) visited Al-Kharwarzi Institute for the Physically Handicapped Children where Rotary Club of Lahore Garrison has provided braces to its students through a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant. The US Rotarians showed special interest in the students suffering from Cerebral Palsy (C.P.). They visited them in their classes and interacted with them. They also visited the physiotherapy center and were … Read entire article »
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