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“Real intelligence lies in connecting with nature”: Shah

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Sindh education minister warns against overreliance on AI, stresses human consciousness and creativity at education summit in Karachi IV Report KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah on Saturday cautioned against the unchecked influence of artificial intelligence (AI), urging educators and policymakers to anchor future learning in human consciousness, creativity, and a deep connection with nature. Addressing the closing session of the 6th National Education Summit 2026 at the IBA Karachi auditorium, the minister said that while AI is rapidly transforming modern life, its long-term implications demand careful consideration. “It feels as though artificial intelligence has launched an attack; now we must think about our defense,” he remarked, framing the technological shift as both an opportunity and a challenge for education systems. The summit, titled “Nurturing Future-Ready Learners: Leadership Dialogue on AI and Generation Alpha,” was organised by the Pakistan...
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WHO clears first malaria treatment for newborns

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Adds new diagnostic tests to tackle detection gaps IV Report KARACHI: Ahead of World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the first malaria treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants, and approved three new diagnostic tests to address emerging detection challenges. The newly approved formulation of artemether-lumefantrine is designed for babies weighing between two and five kilograms — a group long treated with medicines intended for older children, increasing the risk of dosing errors and side effects. WHO prequalification confirms the drug meets global standards of quality, safety and efficacy, enabling wider public-sector procurement and improving access for vulnerable infants. The move is expected to help close a longstanding treatment gap affecting millions of babies born annually in malaria-endemic regions, particularly in Africa, WHO said in a statement.                    ...
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PMA presses for decisive action to end malaria burden

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Association urges real-time surveillance systems and expanded preventive measures amid persistent malaria cases nationwide IV Report KARACHI: Marking World Malaria Day 2026, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has called for urgent, decisive action to eliminate malaria, warning that the disease continues to impose a heavy burden despite the availability of new tools and treatments. In a statement issued on April 25 aligned with this year’s global theme, “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,” PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said that while scientific advances such as vaccines and next-generation mosquito nets have created unprecedented opportunities, their impact hinges on political will and timely implementation. The association also stressed the need to strengthen surveillance, urging authorities to implement a robust, data-driven reporting system to monitor and contain outbreaks in real time, alongside ensuring the availability of vaccines, diagnost...
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SIC, TI Pakistan plan joint drive for transparency in Sindh

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                                                                                               IV photo Both sides to launch awareness drives, train officials under RTI Act 2016 IV Report KARACHI: The Sindh Information Commission (SIC) and Transparency International Pakistan have agreed to collaborate to advance transparency and open governance in Sindh, terming effective implementation of the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2016 a “cornerstone” for citizens’ access to information. According to an official handout issued Saturday, the agreement came during a meeting where both sides discussed enhancing public awareness, building capacity of public bodies, and streamlining mechanisms for timely and proactive disclosure of informa...
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Doctors urge vaccine push as ‘zero-dose’ crisis deepens

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PMA calls for structural reforms as PIMA urges parents to complete children’s immunisation IV Report KARACHI: As countries across the globe, including Pakistan, mark World Immunisation Week 2026 (April 24-30) to promote wider vaccine coverage among children, two leading medical bodies have issued both cautionary and motivational messages, calling for stronger government action and greater parental responsibility to improve immunisation uptake. The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Friday warned of a growing “zero-dose” crisis, saying Pakistan remains at a critical juncture with over one million children having received no vaccinations. It noted that around 58 per cent of children are either unimmunised or under-immunised, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases. Highlighting regional disparities, the PMA said routine immunisation coverage in Pakistan lags behind neighbours such as China and Iran, where coverage exceeds 95 per cent, and India and Bangladesh, which ...
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PMA calls ‘Healthcare Apocalypse’ as outbreaks grip Sindh

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Medical body slams ‘criminal paralysis’ of govt, cites 65 measles deaths and surge in HIV among children IV Report KARACHI: Calling Sindh “a breeding ground for preventable deaths,” the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Thursday (April 23) declared the province’s health system in collapse, warning of unchecked outbreaks of measles, HIV, Congo virus, and monkeypox amid what it termed the administration’s “criminal paralysis.” In a press release, the PMA said Sindh was “battling a multi-front epidemic” while public hospitals function understaffed, undersupplied, and unsafe for doctors and patients alike. The association said Sindh emerged as the worst-affected province in 2025 for measles, recording over 11,000 suspected cases, 4,200 confirmed infections, and 65 deaths, with the impact falling primarily on children under five and mortality worsened by malnutrition. Karachi, Khairpur, Sukkur and Jacobabad were identified as hotspots. The situation, it added, has reached a cr...
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PCS Karachi charts 2026 course for heart health

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New e-bulletin launched; experts stress research-led prevention and stronger inter-body collaboration IV Report KARACHI: The Karachi chapter of the Pakistan Cardiac Society (PCS) last week outlined its strategic roadmap for 2026 at a session titled “Clinical Innovation & Strategic Continuity,” held at the Tabba Heart Institute. The meeting brought together leading cardiologists and healthcare stakeholders to align priorities around clinical innovation, research, and institutional collaboration in cardiovascular care. Proceedings were moderated by Dr Aliya Kemal Ahsan, who also announced the launch of “The Karachi Beat,” an e-bulletin aimed at improving clinical communication and sharing emerging research within the cardiology community. Speaking about the initiative, Chief Editor Dr Akram Sultan and Editor Dr Aliya Kemal said separately that the publication—also referred to as “Heart Beat”—was envisioned as more than an academic outlet. “It is a platform for connection, ...
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