Health

LAHORE: Lahore has ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted cities, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 157, as elevated pollution levels continue to affect several parts of the city. According to air quality data, Chaman Park recorded the highest AQI among the reported locations at 186, followed by Iqbal Town at 176 and

LAHORE: Punjab’s Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has intensified anti-smog measures by deploying Quick Response Units (QRUs) to detect and extinguish crop-residue fires during the rice-harvesting season. Director General of the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Abdullah Nayyer Sheikh, on Sunday conducted a surprise visit to inspect the operational readiness of Quick Response Units (QRUs) deployed

LAHORE: Punjab Governor and Chancellor Sardar Saleem Haider appointed vice-chancellors of five public medical universities following the interviews at Governor’s House on Monday. The Punjab governor conducted these interviews following the approval from CM Punjab and the provincial cabinet. Following the interviews, the governor approved the summary for the appointment of VCs for five medical

QUETTA: The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Balochistan has launched a targeted anti-polio vaccination campaign across 13 districts in the province. The initiative focuses on 62 high-risk union councils (UCs) to protect children and interrupt the transmission of the poliovirus. According to EOC Coordinator Inam Ul Haq, the campaign specifically targets areas identified with high-risk mobile

LAHORE: Healthcare institutions across Lahore marked World Hepatitis Day (28 July) with free screening camps, awareness walks, and seminars focused on prevention and early detection. At the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Centre, officials highlighted that over 15 million people in Pakistan live with hepatitis B and C. Experts stressed that timely diagnosis

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique on Monday inaugurated the state-of-the-art Biosafety Level-III (BSL-III) Laboratory at the Department of Faisal Masood Biomedical Sciences, King Edward Medical University (KEMU). During his visit, the minister inspected the extraction and post-extraction laboratories, autoclave facility, ELISA, DNA and RNA laboratories. Dr. Nighat Yasmin briefed him on the laboratory’s

ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has ordered a sweeping phase-out of conventional disposable syringes by January 1, 2027. This urgent directive aims to halt the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections driven by unsafe medical practices and syringe reuse. The decision follows extensive investigations by a federal health task force into

Lahore: The Lahore Traffic Police has launched a citywide awareness campaign urging motorists to give priority to ambulances and other emergency vehicles in an effort to improve emergency response times and help save lives. The campaign, titled “Give Way to Ambulances Because the First Right is the Right to Life,” has been initiated under the

ISLAMABAD: A national taskforce formed on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to investigate the alleged mishandling of HIV-related issues in Pakistan has completed its deliberations and is expected to submit final recommendations to the premier within a week, officials said on Thursday. The third and likely final meeting of the taskforce was held

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been identified as the largest contributor to the global burden of hepatitis C, according to the World Health Organisation’s Global Hepatitis Report 2026, raising serious concerns about unsafe medical practices and weak infection control measures across the country. The report highlights that hepatitis B and C remain among the deadliest infectious diseases