By: Asim Nawaz
National Conference in Karachi Brings Policymakers and Youth Together to Advance Menstrual Health and Dignity in Pakistan
KARACHI: Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), Aahung, the Institute for Social and Youth Development (ISYD), and the Menstrual Health Advocacy and Action Network (MHAAN) convened Pakistan’s first-ever National Conference on Menstrual Health and Dignity today at the Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (MiTE), Karachi. The conference, held under the theme “From Awareness to Action: Advancing Menstrual Health, Dignity and Justice,” 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), and aslo marked as 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 from across sectors including representatives from the Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), Embrace, Aahung, ConnectHear, SCSW, exploring the policy, institutional, and rights-based dimensions of menstrual health in Pakistan.
Special remarks were delivered by Dr. Talib Lashari, a distinguished public health expert, who emphasized the need for institutional integration of menstrual health into public health frameworks, national guidelines on menstrual health, and by Mr. Fawad Shamim, GM Programs and NBD at Greenstar Social Marketing, who 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 passionate youth advocates, Period Pride Fellows, and young change-makers who shared community-based interventions, peer education initiatives, and experiences of navigating menstrual stigma across Pakistan. Panelists included youth representatives from Agha Khan University (AKU), Aahung, and ITA’s Period Pride Champions.
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 and a live musical set by members of Azad Band brought creative expression to the conference, reinforcing the message 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 to advancing menstrual health and dignity, commending the organizers for creating a platform that brings policy, practice, and youth voices together. Prof. Dr. Huma Baqai, Rector of MiTE, praised the significance of the conference, appreciated the organizers on such important topic and reaffirmed MiTE’s commitment to hosting platforms that advance social justice and youth empowerment.
In his closing remarks, Joshua Dilawar, Programme Manager at ITA, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all partner organizations, Aahung, ISYD, Embrace, UNFPA, ConnectHear, Subrang Society and MHAAN, for their collaboration and commitment. He extended special thanks to the Government of Sindh representatives for their presence and support, to MiTE for their generous hospitality as host institution, and to Fòs Feminista and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for funding ITA under the Sang Pour Sang project and making this milestone event possible. He called on all stakeholders to carry the spirit of the conference forward, from awareness to sustained, collective action.