Tag: family planning

  • Hiba Bukhari & Arez Ahmed open up about their family planning journey

    Hiba Bukhari & Arez Ahmed open up about their family planning journey

    In an exclusive interview on Green Entertainment’s Ramazan transmission, popular Pakistani television actors Hiba Bukhari and Arez Ahmed shared insights into their personal lives, addressing the topic of family planning.

    “We don’t feel any pressure from our families. However, many people from outside the family ask us about having a baby. Once, an aunty asked me about it, and I jokingly said, ‘We already have one baby on YouTube,’” Arez jokingly replied.

    Hiba spoke up, adding, “According to some reports on YouTube, I became a mother just six months after marriage, and Arez supposedly gifted expensive presents to my sisters.” Both emphasized that only Allah knows the truth, and they will have children when the time is right. Arez Ahmed also expressed his desire for Hiba to become the mother of their children.
    Hiba married fellow actor Arez in January 2022, after being in a relationship for some time.

  • Pakistan’s Population: A Brighter Future For All

    Population Experts and Government officials gathered in Islamabad to discuss improving population health in Pakistan.

    Islamabad, Pakistan – May 24, 2023 – Today marks the beginning of a two-day learning event by DAFPAK, a leading organization dedicated to improving population health outcomes in Pakistan, focused on ensuring a brighter future for Pakistan, titled “Pakistan’s Population: A Brighter Future For All.”

    Delivering Accelerated Family Planning In Pakistan (DAFPAK) is a £90m Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) programme that aims to improve family planning outcomes across Pakistan by improving access to family planning services for the most vulnerable and disseminating messages for the common good under a platform called KhairKhwah.

    “The British High Commission has been investing in family planning since 2012. Our current support programme, DAFPAK is the largest donor-funded program on family planning which has served over 8 million women and girls in mostly marginalized areas”, said Andrew Dalgleish, Acting British High Commissioner to Pakistan while addressing the event in Islamabad.

    Chief Guest, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, emphasized the urgency of addressing the population growth rate, stating, “Unless we control our population, we won’t be able to distribute resources in a manner where we can provide healthcare, education and bright futures to our people. Our future is linked to how fast we can control Pakistan’s population growth.”

    Rapid population growth in Pakistan has created immense pressure on the country’s resources, and it has become difficult to provide essential services such as healthcare and education to all citizens. The event aims to address these issues and come up with strategies to improve population health.

    Dr Sara Shahzad, Health Advisor, FCDO highlighted the need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, improved partnerships with the private sector, and a holistic multi-sectoral approach towards family planning.

    Goodwill Ambassador for Population & Family Planning, Shehzad Roy, while addressing the event emphasised the significance of transforming mindsets alongside policy changes. “As a global ambassador of Family Planning, I would like to share that while inventing new policies is very important, what’s even more important is changing mindsets because only then we’ll be able to bring true change.”
    Over the course of two days, participants will share their insights on family planning, population growth, and its impact on the country. The event features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions.

    The event is being organized by Palladium Pakistan under DAFPAK-PSSD in collaboration with UNFPA, PSI, MSS, DKT, and M&C Saatchi in partnership with The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Islamabad, and provincial Health and Population Welfare Departments of Punjab, Sindh, and KP.

  • ‘Go where Muslims are in minority if you want more kids,’ Abdul Qadir Patel on population control

    ‘Go where Muslims are in minority if you want more kids,’ Abdul Qadir Patel on population control

    Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel on Monday presented a unique suggestion to control the population of Pakistan. The health minister said that if couples want to have more children, then they should go to another country where Muslims are in a minority so that the Muslim population can also increase around the world.

    Patel said that by 2030, Pakistan’s population is expected to cross 285 million. He said it is an “alarming situation”.

    “We do not want to decrease the Muslim population. We want Muslims to be better, more educated and provide them with better healthcare facilities.”

    Qadir Patel said that he has suggested to people to go have children in countries where the Muslim population is in a minority. “We are a lot in numbers here masha’Allah.”

    The federal minister emphasised that in order to control the growing population, there needs to be more awareness about family planning.

    Qadir Patel made the remarks while addressing a seminar in Islamabad.

    The world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. According to a United Nations (UN) report, Pakistan is among eight countries where the projected increase of population is expected to be concentrated in 2050.

  • VIDEO: President Alvi shares ad on stigma surrounding contraceptives

    A government-sponsored advertisement addresses the social stigma surrounding the use of contraceptives in Pakistan. President Dr Arif Alvi shared the public service announcement (PSA) and tweeted, “The health of the nation is closely linked to maternal and child health”.

    “Make the right family arrangements for prosperity, keep a check on the number of children. Ensure good health. Don’t ignore this topic but discuss it and spread the message,” the president added.

    At the end of the PSA, a helpline number is also given: 0800-1117.

    https://twitter.com/ArifAlvi/status/1437311083497328641

    People on social media are lauding the government’s initiative

    https://twitter.com/lemonfresh02/status/1437353973317570560

    https://twitter.com/ReemKhurshid/status/1437338920572887045