ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee Chairperson, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, has emphasized that reproductive health and family planning are fundamental human rights and underscored the urgent need to implement these programmes effectively and ensure they are accessible to all, particularly in schools, where education on puberty, hormonal changes and family planning must begin early.
The meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was held Tuesday under the chairpersonship of Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri here at the Parliament House to review the status of family planning, reproductive health and population management in Pakistan.
During the discussion, Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti highlighted the impact of taxation on contraceptives, noting that it has restricted access and left many people without essential family planning services and basic reproductive health facilities.
Health officials responded that the matter had previously been reviewed at the cabinet level and that ongoing efforts are in place to address these issues within the constraints of the IMF programme and existing federal taxation policies.
The role of religious guidance was also discussed, and religious scholars present clarified that they do not oppose family planning or reproductive health initiatives in principle.
Their recommendations focused on delivering such Continued from page 12 messaging in accordance with Islamic teachings, prioritizing the health and well-being of children and mothers across communities.
They noted that while Nikah procedures currently include verification of age through CNIC, medical tests remain optional and could be incorporated in a recommendatory format to help prevent potential health issues, without imposing any compulsion on families.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri emphasized once again that reproductive health and family planning are fundamental human rights. She underscored the urgent need to implement these programmes effectively and ensure they are accessible to all segments of society, particularly in schools, where education on puberty, hormonal changes and family planning must begin at an early stage.
The UNFPA Country Representative added that Pakistan experiences approximately nine million pregnancies annually, yet access to services remains limited, awareness continues to be low and governance gaps still impede effective implementation of policies.
He highlighted challenges such as a resource allocation formula that inadvertently incentivizes population growth, fragmented institutional structures and limited task force engagement at various levels.
He emphasized that political commitment, accountability and a unified national vision are essential, citing examples from Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh where strong policy implementation and sustained outreach have successfully managed fertility rates and improved maternal health outcomes.
Senator Samina inquired about concrete measures to educate girls and integrate family planning into school curricula, stressing that delayed or inconsistent application continues to hinder long-term behavioural change. She also raised the issue of inter-ministerial coordination, requesting that the Health, Education and Religious Affairs departments align closely for more effective and coherent implementation of national strategies.
The committee reviewed presentations from provincial health departments, noting steady progress in integrating family planning services into primary healthcare systems.
Members proposed holding a joint meeting of the Health, Human Rights, Education and Planning ministries to address these issues collectively, and the committee unanimously decided to convene such a meeting in the near future.
