Daily Times

Family planning took center stage at the 25th Annual Population Research Conference, held at IBA University, where USAID’s Building Healthy Families (BHF) project organized a dynamic panel discussion titled “Flip the FP: A New Call to Action.” The session engaged policymakers, experts, and youth in exploring actionable strategies to strengthen family planning programs in Pakistan.

The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Dr. Kaiser Bengali, renowned economist; Dr. Tamkenat Mansoor, prominent content creator; Khursheed Nadeem, TV host and Chairperson of the National Rehmatul Lil Aalameen wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority; and Dr. Iffat Zafar Agha, CEO of Sehat Khani. The session was chaired by Ms. Nida Khuhro, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Population Welfare, and moderated by representatives of USAID’s BHF project.

The discussion delved into the structural, cultural, communal, and behavioral determinants influencing family planning in Pakistan. Panelists shared insights into key challenges and proposed unified and coordinated actions to align societal attitudes, promote grassroots engagement, and drive policy implementation.

The audience included students, faculty members, civil society representatives, international organizations, and participants from across the country. Young attendees, particularly students from IBA, enriched the dialogue with their unique perspectives, posing thought-provoking questions that highlighted the importance of youth engagement in shaping family planning policies.

Dr. Kaiser Bengali emphasized the importance of involving sociologists and psychologists in research to deepen our understanding of community dynamics. He highlighted the need to explore how people and communities perceive and respond to various issues, uncovering their motivations and perspectives. Dr. Bengali stressed that such insights are crucial for designing interventions that are not only evidence-based but also tailored to the specific needs and realities of the communities.

Dr. Tamkenat Mansoor underscored the disconnect between development agendas and the immediate concerns of communities, emphasizing that a person struggling for survival prioritizes feeding their family and meeting basic necessities over broader development issues.

She stressed the critical need to raise awareness about children’s rights, pointing out that parenting involves more than just bringing a child into the world, it requires understanding and fulfilling the rights every child is entitled to. “If parents are aware of their children’s rights, they will be able to reflect on whether they can adequately meet those rights before making decisions,” she stated.

Dr. Tamkenat also addressed societal perceptions that view children as a means of securing care in old age. She called on the state to take responsibility for providing security to its citizens, arguing that when people lack confidence in the state’s ability to support them, they see having more children as their only option for future stability.

Mr. Khursheed Nadeem shed light on two significant societal issues: the preference for a male child and the practice of early marriages for girls. He emphasized that these cultural norms not only hinder the progress of gender equality but also place undue pressure on families and individuals.

He pointed out that every parent has a duty to care for, educate, and nurture their children, helping them grow into responsible and capable individuals.

Mr. Nadeem further stressed the need for a non-political, trusted religious advisory body that citizens can turn to for guidance. Highlighting the example of Indonesia’s civic Islam model, he underscored the importance of aligning religious principles with societal well-being, creating a framework where citizens can receive unbiased, constructive advice.

Dr. Iffat Zafar Agha emphasized the critical role of telehealth in improving access to healthcare, particularly for women. She highlighted that telehealth services can bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility, providing women with the opportunity to seek medical advice and support from the comfort of their homes. This is especially significant in contexts where cultural, logistical, or financial barriers limit women’s ability to visit healthcare facilities in person. Dr. Agha underscored the need to prioritize and expand telehealth initiatives to ensure that women have equitable access to quality healthcare.

This lively interaction underscored the necessity of inclusive and community-driven approaches to address Pakistan’s population growth and reproductive health challenges. Participants left inspired by the innovative ideas and collaborative spirit that emerged during the session.

The panel discussion was sponsored by the USAID Funded, Building Health Families (BHF) project that supports health systems and healthier reproductive, maternal and child health outcomes in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab.

This impactful session facilitated meaningful dialogue, provided platform to previously unheard voices to be heard, and facilitated an exchange of diverse perspectives, laying the groundwork for a deeper understanding to advance family planning initiatives in Pakistan.