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Sindh

Sindh to launch mega blood donation campaign before Ramadan

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Sindh to launch

KARACHI: The Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority has announced the launch of a province-wide Mega Blood Donation Drive on February 16, describing it as the first campaign of its kind under the Sindh Health Department.

Secretary of the authority, Dr. Dur-e-Naz Jamal, termed the initiative a major step aimed at addressing blood shortages ahead of Ramadan. She said that for the first time, all blood banks across Sindh will work simultaneously under a coordinated strategy to ensure maximum collection.

According to Dr. Jamal, a single bottle of donated blood can help save up to three lives. She revealed that around 17,000 thalassemia patients are currently registered across Sindh, underscoring the urgent need for regular voluntary blood donations.

She further announced that medals and certificates will be awarded to blood donors during the campaign in order to encourage greater public participation and promote a culture of voluntary donation.

Appealing to citizens, Dr. Dur-e-Naz Jamal urged people to actively participate in the Mega Blood Donation Drive and make it a success so that no shortage of blood arises during Ramadan.

Sindh bans photography in girls’ colleges to protect students’ privacy

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Sindh bans

KARACHI: The Sindh government has imposed a ban on photography in government girls’ colleges across the province to prevent the misuse of students’ images on social media.

According to official details, the Sindh College Education Department has issued a formal notification directing principals of government girls’ colleges to strictly enforce the ban on taking photographs of students within college premises.

The measure aims to curb the unauthorised sharing and circulation of students’ images on social media platforms. The decision follows an advisory issued by the Special Secretary for Colleges, after which the Regional Director of College Education Karachi formally informed all government colleges through official correspondence.

Officials said the step was taken in response to multiple complaints regarding the misuse of photographs taken on college campuses. The ban has been introduced to safeguard the privacy, dignity and security of female students.

The Special Secretary noted that in several cases, unauthorised photographs of female teachers and students were secretly taken and shared on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and other digital media.

Following the directive, college principals and staff have been instructed to ensure strict compliance. Regional Director College Education Karachi, Professor Qazi Irshad, warned that disciplinary action would be taken against principals and staff found violating the ban.

It is worth mentioning that earlier the Punjab government had also imposed restrictions on the use of mobile phones by teachers and students in schools, directing district education officers to ensure strict implementation of the policy.

Sindh to upgrade 300 Rabies Treatment Centres across province

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Sindh to upgrade

KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced plans to upgrade 300 treatment and prevention centres under the Rabies Control Program Sindh (RCPS) to ensure timely and accessible care for rabies patients.

Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, who chaired a meeting on the program, said that rabies treatment facilities will be available every 10 to 15 kilometers across the province. “All 300 rabies centres in Sindh districts will be upgraded,” he confirmed.

Shah emphasized that the government has adopted a comprehensive and proactive approach to address rabies. Medicines and vaccines will be procured, and the centres will be upscaled in phases with enhanced facilities, standardized protocols, and improved service delivery.

The meeting also highlighted that staff members of the rabies control program will receive training to improve technical skills and clinical capacity. In addition, a province-wide awareness campaign will be launched to educate people on the importance of timely treatment.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected dog or animal. It affects the central nervous system, causing severe neurological symptoms, and can be fatal if left untreated.

Another rabies death reported in Karachi

A man in Karachi has died after contracting rabies from a dog bite, marking the second fatality from the disease in Sindh this year.

According to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the deceased, Karamat, was bitten by a dog three months ago and developed rabies.

He was admitted to the hospital on January 8. Karamat, aged 42, was a resident of Gulshan-e-Maymar and worked as a plumber.

The Sindh Health Department confirmed that rabies has now claimed two lives in the province in 2026.

Two more people die of dengue in Sindh

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Two more people

KARACHI: The dengue outbreak in Sindh continues to worsen as two more people lost their lives in the past 24 hours, raising the provincial death toll this year to 31, according to the Sindh Health Department.

Among the latest victims are a 44-year-old woman from Karachi and a 13-year-old boy from Hyderabad.

In the last 24 hours, Sindh reported 829 new dengue cases, including 419 in Karachi and 468 in Hyderabad.

This year, the total number of dengue cases across the province has climbed to 14,468.

Currently, 245 patients are under treatment in government hospitals, while 173 are admitted to private hospitals.

Karachi’s government hospitals have allocated 256 beds for dengue patients, whereas private hospitals have reserved 165 beds.

A total of 34 laboratories in Karachi are conducting dengue testing — 12 government-run and 22 private labs.

In Hyderabad, 18 laboratories are offering dengue tests, including 7 government and 11 private facilities.

The Sindh Health Department continues to monitor the situation closely as cases surge across the province.

Running Dry: Sindh’s Deepening Water Crisis

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Dry riverbed in Sindh showing water scarcity and drought.

Sindh is experiencing one of Pakistan’s worst water crises. With declining river inflows and unsustainable groundwater extraction, water scarcity is deepening both in rural and urban regions.

Causes of Water Shortage

According to a study published on arXiv (2020), groundwater storage across the Indus Basin declined significantly between 2005–2015, beyond normal seasonal variation.
The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) report (2024) found that out of 1,247 water supply schemes surveyed in Sindh, only 42% were operational, and 75% of water samples were unsafe for drinking.

Impact on Agriculture

As Dawn (2023) reported, soil salinity and waterlogging have reduced productivity in Thatta and Badin, forcing many farmers to abandon agriculture and migrate to urban centers.

Urban Water Challenges

In Karachi, The Express Tribune (Feb 2024) highlighted how illegal water tanker mafias control distribution, charging up to 10 times the normal rate — deepening inequality between poor and wealthy areas.

Sustainable Solutions

  • Modernize canal irrigation systems to reduce leakage.
  • Encourage drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting.
  • Enforce groundwater extraction laws.
  • Recycle treated wastewater for industrial use.

Conclusion

Sindh’s water future depends on urgent reforms and cooperation between provinces. Without sustainable water governance, the crisis could soon become Pakistan’s largest human security challenge.

Karachi Is Sinking: Rising Seas and Vanishing Shores

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Flooded coastal homes in Karachi after sea intrusion.

Karachi’s 70 km coastline faces a growing threat from rising sea levels.
A MDPI study (2023) recorded Karachi’s relative sea level rising 1.9 millimeters per year since 1916.
The Institute for Strategic Studies Pakistan (ISSP) (June 16, 2025) confirmed further acceleration linked to global warming.

Coastal Erosion and Flooding

According to Dawn News (May 2020), over 3.1 million acres of agricultural land in Badin, Thatta, and Sujawal have already been submerged or rendered infertile by seawater intrusion.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF Pakistan) reports that Sindh has lost more than 50% of its mangroves over the past 50 years — removing the natural buffer that once protected Karachi from tidal surges.

Communities in Crisis

Fishing villages like Ibrahim Hyderi and Keti Bunder are being forced to relocate as saline water destroys homes and farmland. Sea intrusion has advanced 67 km inland, forcing mass migration (Dawn News, 2020).

Economic Risks

Karachi Port and nearby industries are at serious risk of flooding, threatening billions in infrastructure and trade. Coastal erosion also endangers DHA’s waterfront zones and Clifton areas.

Solutions

  • Replant mangroves along the Sindh coastline.
  • Ban sand mining and control development in high-risk zones.
  • Build sea walls and climate-resilient infrastructure.
  • Integrate coastal climate risk into city planning.

Conclusion

As ISSP warned (2025), Karachi’s rising sea levels are a long-term economic and humanitarian risk. Without urgent restoration of natural defenses and smarter coastal policy, Pakistan’s largest city could face irreversible damage.

Sindh to convert Karachi, Larkana matric boards to solar power

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Sindh

KARACHI: The Sindh government has approved a plan to convert the Karachi and Larkana Boards of Secondary Education to solar energy in a bid to ensure uninterrupted power supply and smooth functioning of examination and administrative activities.

Provincial Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahoo said that the transition to solar power will help both education boards continue examination and administrative operations without disruption.

He added that the Universities and Boards Department has also introduced legal and policy reforms to improve efficiency and governance within the department.