CSOs ask govt to fulfil promise of creating Rs10b population fund

ISLAMABAD: The coalition of 19 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on population calls upon the federal government to abide by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) decision of creating a Rs10 billion population fund, says a press release on Monday.

The CCI has endorsed a plan of action for achieving population stabilisation. The current budget has only allocated Rs1 billion against the original stipulated amount. The population fund has been created to fund the expansion of Lady Health Workers (LHWs); support innovative initiatives to improve access to family planning services and for procuring contraceptives. The provincial governments are required to match 50% amount of additional allocations for procurement of contraceptives and for increase in LHWs for 100% coverage for doorstep services.

The CCI gave the stewardship role for implementing their pledges to the federal and provincial Task Forces, headed by the president of Pakistan and chief ministers, respectively. Until now, these meetings have been not been held regularly particularly in the provinces. “We urge to hold these meetings at designated intervals of every six months for the federal task force and every quarter for the provincial task forces. We also urge the task forces to give clear targets to the line departments for improving FP&RH services and monitor progress regularly,” the press release added.

The coalition of civil society organisation has been formed to gauge the progress being made on the implementation of the CCI endorsed Plan of Action to achieve population stabilisation.

The organisations include: the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), Aahung, Blue Veins, Aurat Foundation, Marie Stopes Society, Indus Consortium, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), Idara Taleem O Agahi, Hope Foundation, National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Institute of Rural Management (IRM), Sindh Graduate Association, Rahnuma FPAP, Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (SOGP), Balochistan Rural Support Programme, MAHEC Community, Taraqee Foundation, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Population Center Pakistan (PCP).