KARACHI: Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), Aahung, the Institute for Social and Youth Development (ISYD), Menstrual Health Advocacy and Action Network (MHAAN) in collaboration with UNFPA, Embrace, ConnectHear, MiTE, and Sub Rang Society convened Pakistan’s first-ever National Conference on Menstrual Health and Dignity at the Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (MiTE), Karachi. Held under the theme “From Awareness to Action: Advancing Menstrual Health, Dignity and Justice,” the conference brought together more than 150 participants including policymakers, health professionals, civil society representatives, youth advocates, and development sector leaders. Funded by Fòs Feminista and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), it also marked the 7th Interactive Youth Forum on Policy, Practice and Youth-led Action.
Panel I: Leadership Perspectives on Menstrual Health as a Public Health and Rights Issue brought together senior voices exploring the policy, institutional, and rights-based dimensions of menstrual health. Panelists included Ms. Marvi Awan (CEO of WPCS & Member of SCSW), Ms. Annam Khurram Khan (Project Lead at Aahung), Ms. Taiba Akhlaq (Brand Manager at Embrace), Ms. Aradhiya Khan (Communication Manager at Gender Interactive Alliance) and Ms. Aliya Afzal (Lead Sign Language Trainer and Interpreter at ConnectHear). Special remarks were delivered by Dr. Talib Lashari, a distinguished public health expert, who called for institutional integration of menstrual health into public health frameworks and the development of national guidelines and dedicated committee on MHM. Mr. Fawad Shamim, GM Programs and NBD at Greenstar Social Marketing, highlighted the critical role of the private sector in driving social change and expanding access to menstrual health products and services across Pakistan.
Panel II: Our Bodies, Our Rights Youth Champions in Action featured youth advocates, Period Pride Fellows, and young change-makers who shared community-based interventions, peer education initiatives, and personal experiences of navigating menstrual stigma across Pakistan. Panelists included Ms. Abeer Mian, Assitant Professor, Community Health Sciences at the Aga Khan University (AKU); Mr. Muhammad Yousuf, Period Pride Fellow (Punjab) at ITA, leading Humraahi and serving as District Coordinator of Y-PEER Pakistan; Ms. Hasrat Ul Nisa, Period Pride Fellow (Sindh) at ITA; Mr. Amir Ali, Youth Health Educator at Aahung; and Ms. Murk Khooharo, Trainer and Social Activist.
Period Pride Fellows presented their Menstrual Health Action Plans (MHAPs), showcasing grassroots initiatives developed and implemented by young people across the country. A storytelling session by our Period Pride Fellow – Zarmeen Kausarand a live musical performance by members of Azad Band brought creative expression to the conference, reinforcing that menstrual health is a matter of dignity, rights, and collective action.
Guests of Honour Dr. Fouzia Hameed, MPA Sindh, and Ms. Shamim Mumtaz, Former Minister, Social Welfare Department, Sindh, affirmed state-level support for advancing menstrual health and dignity, commending the organizers for creating a platform that bridges policy, practice, and youth voices. Prof. Dr. Huma Baqai, Rector of MiTE, praised the significance of the conference and reaffirmed MiTE’s commitment to platforms that advance social justice and youth empowerment, stressing that eradicating period poverty and breaking deep-rooted taboos around menstruation must be a national priority.
In his closing remarks, Joshua Dilawar, Programme Manager at ITA, expressed gratitude to all partner organizations — Aahung, ISYD, Embrace, UNFPA, MHAAN, ConnectHear and Subrang Society — and extended special thanks to the Government of Sindh, MiTE, Fòs Feminista, and AFD for making this milestone event possible. He called on all stakeholders to carry the spirit of the conference forward, from awareness to sustained, collective action.
rafiq@biztoday.news
