Pakistan has a striking issue of child marriage, with a staggering 10% of individuals between 15 and 19 years old already married, according to a recent Gallup Report. This alarming trend is more pronounced in rural areas, where girls are disproportionately affected, with some areas reporting a rate as high as 30%. In contrast, urban areas like Islamabad and Punjab have a lower rate of child marriage. The report also highlights that the trend of child marriage is more prevalent in rural areas of Balochistan, where the rate is higher compared to other provinces.
This phenomenon has severe consequences for the girls involved, including limited access to education and early marriage, which often leads to a lifetime of poverty and dependence. The report emphasizes the need for policymakers to address this issue through targeted interventions and awareness campaigns.
In other news, the TTP and BLA have resurfaced in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, raising concerns about the region’s security. The Pakistani government has reiterated its commitment to tackling terrorism and ensuring the country’s stability.
Meanwhile, the government has announced that it will resume operations of two trains, the Jaffar Express and the Chamman Passenger, which were suspended due to security concerns. The trains will resume operations from today, with the first journey scheduled to depart from Quetta to Peshawar.
In a significant development, the opposition alliance, the Movement for the Protection of Pakistan’s Constitution, has accepted the government’s offer for talks. The talks are expected to focus on ensuring free and fair elections, which are a cornerstone of democracy.
In a related development, the son of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Qasim Khan, has announced that he will travel to Pakistan to meet his father, who is currently in exile. The move is seen as an effort to heal the rift between the Khan family and the government.
The government has also announced that it will hold a nationwide drill to simulate a terrorist attack, which will be conducted on January 10th. The drill will involve sirens being sounded at 9 am and 10 am, followed by a minute of silence.
In a separate development, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Asim Munir, has visited Quetta, where he met with senior military officials to discuss security matters.
In a significant move, the Judicial Commission has issued a notification regarding the judicial investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi. The commission will investigate the role of officials and authorities in the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of several people.
The commission has been formed to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for the tragedy are held accountable. The commission’s findings will be made public, and its recommendations will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
