Federal minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza spoke at length on Pakistan’s commitment to manage its population growth at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 25 in Nairobi on November 13, 2019 arranged by the United Nations Fund for Population Activity (UNFPA).
Federal minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza spoke at length on Pakistan’s commitment to manage its population growth at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 25 in Nairobi on November 13, 2019 arranged by the United Nations Fund for Population Activity (UNFPA).
He said, “…. in Pakistan we have made significant progress on many accounts in last 25 years. I would like to share following two statistics: Between 1990 and 2018 antenatal care has increased from 14 per cent to 51 per cent. Skilled birth attendance increased from 17 per cent to 69 per cent in the same period.
• “More important for us, however, is to say that we are unsatisfied with the progress we have made and we acknowledge the need for an accelerated action on many accounts for our children, girls, women, boys, men and our transgender fellow citizens.
• There is a political change in Pakistan, with the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan who strongly and deeply believes in human dignity and development. He deeply empathise with vulnerable sections of society and is leading an unprecedented national effort to address the problems of disadvantaged in the society. Even in the time of economic difficulty our government has prioritised these issues and we have initiated mega multi-billion PKR project financed mainly through domestic resources.
• The kamyab jawan (successful youth) program for youth empowerment through economic support and women empowerment.
• The Ehsaas program which means empathy, a comprehensive poverty alleviation and social protection. Along with Benazir Income Support Program make up a largest safety net programs which are providing unconditional cash transfer to the income poor.
• We have also initiated social insurance for the poor families and until now around five million families have been provided coverage...
• Issues related with population planning and welfare are now at the heart of our public policies. Our five-year development plan is firmly underpinned by 2030 agenda for sustainable development…
• Our government has embarked upon an agenda of fundamental change especially to address the needs of women, children and youth.
• We have now developed a National Action Plan on population and we have established Federal Task Force on Population which is chaired by the prime minister, all chief ministers and relevant federal ministers. Same high level task forces have been established in provinces.”
We have set time bound targets and we are committed to achieving them. We know that it is critical to meaningfully advance towards achieving access to sexual and reproductive health as an integral part of UHC.
—Dr Zafar Iqbal, Special Adviser to Prime Minister on Health
