Zubair Qureshi
Investment in family planning is strategic and has far-reaching implications to achieve sustainable population growth rate in Pakistan and cohesive actions are required at the federal and the provincial levels to improve family planning programmes.
These views were expressed by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan in his keynote address at a consultative meeting held online.
The meeting was organized by the Population Center Pakistan in collaboration with the Population Council and with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Addressing the participants, Dr Faisal Sultan said the Council of Common Interest (CCI) recommendations provided a comprehensive framework for the federal and the provincial governments to stabilize population growth.
The consultation was held with key stakeholders to present evidence on improving family planning services and build the case for greater accountability on the CCI decisions to improve family planning programmes in the country.
Members of the Senate, National Assembly of Pakistan, the provincial government representatives, international partners, representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The World Bank and United Nations Population Fund attended the meeting.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Zeba Sathar, Country Director, Population Council expressed the need for greater investment in family planning programmes.
She highlighted government’s highest level of commitment to achieve sustainable population growth.
Dr Zeba also held the CCI recommendations provided an excellent roadmap for achieving sustainable population.
Highlighting interventions in four major areas of the CCI decisions, the Population Center Pakistan (PCP) and the Population Council presented high impact practices to strengthen advocacy and enhance access, finances and accountability.
Five most promising actions – the “Five Best Bets” developed to positively influence the uptake of modern contraceptive were presented by Dr. Zeba Sathar, Country Director Population Council, Dr. Ali Mir, Senior Director Programmes, Population Council at the meeting.
These best bets propose a key set of recommendations on engaging the for-profit sector in FP service provision, inducting men on FP, expanding the role of community health workers and enhancing funding for FP and vouchers for rights-based family planning in Pakistan.
Samia Ali Shah, Project Director at Population Council highlighted advocacy initiatives undertaken in re-framing the new national narrative on creating a balance/tawazun between resources and family amongst young people.
In his comments, UNFPA representative Dr. Yilma Alazar reaffirmed UNFPA’s support to the government of Pakistan in implementation of the CCI decisions.
