Indus Vitals

Doctors' body proposes reporting portal, audits and sanctions for non-compliant institutions IV Report KARACHI: Welcoming a recent notification by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) on trainee stipends, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged the college to ensure strict and transparent enforcement of the policy through concrete measures rather than routine directives. In a letter addressed to the CPSP on June 1, the PMA said notifications without effective implementation were "meaningless" and called for a robust enforcement mechanism to ensure FCPS and MCPS trainees receive their mandated stipends. A copy of the letter was also shared on social media. The association acknowledged the CPSP's May 30, 2026 notification on stipend compliance but expressed concern over what it described as the absence of a transparent implementation framework. It said postgraduate residents continued to face discrimination, payment delays and denial o...

Non-functional website and missing disclosures draw warning from SIC during Jamshoro inspection IV Report KARACHI: Information Commissioners of the Sindh Information Commission (SIC) carried out an inspection of the Sehwan Development Authority (SDA) headquarters in Jamshoro, expressing concern over the authority’s failure to comply with key transparency requirements under the Sindh Right to Information and Transparency Act, 2016. Information Commissioners Muhammad Saleem Khan and Noor Muhammad Dayo visited the SDA head office under Section 13(4) of the Act, where they examined records related to development projects, budget allocations, staffing and other administrative matters, including the authority’s record room. During the visit, the commissioners expressed displeasure over the non-functioning website of the SDA and directed the Director General to make it operational at the earliest, with proactive disclosure of information as required under Section 6 of the Act. They a...

IV Report KARACHI: On the eve of World Polio Day, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, MNA from Sindh and First Lady of Pakistan, has stressed the need for increased vaccinations, improved water and sanitation infrastructure, and strong support for polio workers to make Pakistan polio-free. This comes as Sindh reports 12 new polio cases this year, contributing to Pakistan's total of 39 confirmed cases and over 400 positive environmental samples in 2024. Ms Bhutto emphasised that the stakes have never been higher for Pakistan's children, citing polio's two-decade threat to their future. "Now, more than ever, it is critical that we rally together to protect them through sustained and consistent vaccination efforts," she said. She noted that despite progress, the resurgence of polio in areas like Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa underscores the urgency of the situation. Praise for health workers Ms Bhutto praised the tireless efforts of polio and lady health workers ac...

IV report KARACHI: Stressing the need for awareness, a senior legal professional associated with the federal government's complaints addressing body on harassment, Sabika Shah, highlighted the gravity of workplace harassment in Pakistan. At an awareness seminar organised by Hamdard University (HU), Ms Shah, Regional Head of the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (Fospah), cited a survey revealing that "all Pakistani women face this serious problem at least once in their lifetime." Shah defined harassment, noting, "It's not limited to men harassing women; a man can harass a man, and a woman can harass a female colleague." She emphasised that men and transgender persons are also vulnerable to workplace harassment in Pakistan, ranked among the five worst countries for sexual harassment. The Fospah head explained that any action, including staring, touching, or suggestive speech, can be deemed an offence. Discrimination based o...