The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (“LJCP”) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (“Ministry of Health”) and the United Nations Population Fund (“UNFPA”) organized the National Conference on ‘Resilient Pakistan: Calibrating Population and Resources’ on 14th and 15th of July 2023. The Conference was held with the aim of gauging the implementation of population management policies by the Federal and Provincial Governments in light of the recommendations made after the Human Rights Case No. 17599/2018. Policymakers and experts convened over the two days in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to outline the hindrances faced in the implementation of such policies and to propose to ensure sustainable population growth in Pakistan. The second day of the Conference saw a substantial turnout of judges from the superior and district judiciary, renowned academics, foreign dignitaries, experts and members of the national and international legal community. The day commenced with the third session of the Conference titled “Demographic Trends and Implications for Pakistan”. The session was co-chaired by Supreme Court Justice Mr. Amin-ud-Din Khan and Dr. Sania Nishtar. The speakers for the session shared detailed data on demographic trends and the ground realities of their impact on the general population – particularly women and children. The panelists concluded that Pakistan’s youthful population presented a unique opportunity for socio-economic development, which required a cross-sectoral approach to fully harness the potential. The second session of the day, titled “Pathways to Economic and Social Cohesion”, focused on micro and macro level changes for a sustainable future and started with a passionate speech by the chair, Supreme Court Justice Mr. Muhammad Ali Mazhar who emphasized the need to engage and invest in youth to secure a better future for Pakistan. The panelists proposed ways to create an enabling environment for the youth, which would result in a demographic dividend and sustainable development for all, especially in light of newer challenges such as urban migration and climate change. Mr. Shehzad Roy (Goodwill Ambassador, Population Planning), while speaking on the importance of family planning advocacy stated that, to create an impact, it is necessary to change the mindset of people. He shared that he is working on an initiative whereby couples would be required to take a ‘reproductive health course’ as a prerequisite for the registration of their nikkah with NADRA. Mr. Roy concluded the session with a performance of his song, ‘Socho Phir Se Zara’, which is sung from the perspective of an unborn child and advocated for family planning. The final session of the day chaired by Supreme Court Justice Ms. Ayesha A. Malik was titled “Women Rights, Empowerment and Equality”. It began with a video message from Ms. Diene Keita (Assistant Secretary-General, UN, and Dy. Executive Director (Program), UNFPA) who affirmed UNFPA’s continued commitment to helping Pakistan reach its full potential and stated that the solution might be embedded in three aspects i.e. investment in capacity and human capital and access to opportunity. Ms. Khawar Mumtaz, women’s rights activist and former Chairperson of the National Commission on Status of Women, said that there are three important components of women’s empowerment: education, employment, and their agency. Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala (Representative and Head of Mission in Pakistan, World Health Organization) outlined the specific healthcare issues that women encounter in Pakistan which required immediate attention including those related to maternal, sexual, and reproductive health and stated that “women’s rights are not an aspiration but fundamental necessity to the progress of a country.” Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali (President, SZABIST) discussed how socially constructed norms disempower girls from a young age, leading to unequal rights and discriminatory treatment that impact them as adults. Ms. Fouzia Viqar (Federal Ombudsperson against Women Harassment) further stressed the need to have women in leadership roles and include them in decision making processes. Achieving this requires the creation of enabling workplaces which have basic facilities such as bathrooms and daycare centers. The overarching sentiment shared by the speakers over the course of the Conference was the need for a holistic and multisectoral approach to address not only the problem of rapid population growth, but its current and future implications. Dr. Amjad Saqib (CEO, Akhuwat Foundation) further underscored the need to rid the country of the elite capture and stressed the importance of social protection as a collective responsibility. Throughout the Conference, various panelists also recommended that the focus needs to be on investing in the capacity of women and utilizing their potential as accelerators of economic growth. Justice Ayesha emphasized that “population management is not about controlling individuals but enabling their enjoyment of basic fundamental rights” and further that “gender equality is not just about fairness, it is a facilitator for sustainable development because it unlocks the potential of half the population.” Dr. Asif Ifthikar (Fellow Al-Mawrid Foundation for Islamic Research; Faculty Member, LUMS), while presenting the religious perspective on sustainable growth, noted that “when we give veneration to past traditions, equating them to the Quran and Sunnah we limit the possibility of bringing about change” and instead urged that open dialogue and discourse should be adopted to educate the masses and eliminate misconceptions regarding family planning in Islam. Dr Qibla Ayaz, (Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology) in his video message stated that balance and organization are the best way to deal with population and that family planning results in a better quality of life for children. Justice Ayesha remarked that while “the road ahead is long and challenging” it is still “achievable, if we invest in our women.” Ms. Riffat Inam Butt, Secretary LJCP concluded the Conference with a vote of thanks, and was followed by Dr. Sabina Durrani (DG, PPW, Ministry of Health) summarized the key outcomes of the Conference and presented a set of recommendations that garnered the endorsement of the Ministry of Health, reflecting the collective insights and actionable strategies derived from the discussions. In his closing remarks, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Umar Ata Bandial, expressed his appreciation for the valuable participation and presence of esteemed Conference members and acknowledged the organizing committee for creating such a meaningful platform. He emphasized the importance of hope and encouragement for the future, noting that the Conference has opened a window of opportunity for the Government to enact laws and policies promoting population management for the betterment of society and public interest. The event concluded with the presentation of plaques to the speakers and certificates to the organizing members, marking a significant milestone.
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