Pakistan

Click here for information about WRA Pakistan members that areparticipating in flood relief efforts.

National Alliance Participates in the Grantees Meeting of the Packard Foundation

A high-level and day long meeting of all the grantees of Packard Foundation was held in Karachi, Pakistan on November 5, 2008. On behalf of the White Ribbon Alliance - Pakistan, Dr. Tauseef Ahmed, as President, represented the Alliance. In view of his vast experience, the Packard Foundation had also requested Dr. Tauseef Ahmed to present on the issue of unmet need for contraception in Pakistan.

White Ribbon Alliance -Pakistan has been very recently given a grant of US $50,000 from the Packard Foundation to analyze Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07 data to decipher factors responsible for maternal mortality and morbidity in Pakistan and to indicate sections of population that need immediate attention of policymakers and of the development community. The analysis will also include qualitative assessment of the state of maternal health in Pakistan from more than 250 case studies made available by the Survey. The analyses are to be used for advocacy purposes through a range of activities including packaging the findings in special briefing papers, presentations and video reports [documentaries]. Another very important goal from this analysis is to reposition family planning in Pakistan as a health and life-saving intervention rather than a method of birth control. The grant is to be used over a period of one year.

The Member of the Executive Council of the WRA-Pakistan Appointed as a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan

The first president and currently member of the Executive Council of the White Ribbon Alliance - Pakistan, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, who is also a member of the National Assembly has been appointed as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Social Sector. Under this portfolio, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali has the status of the Minister of State. The WRA-Pakistan is governed by an elected body called "Executive Council," which comprises eleven distinguished individuals from different walks of life all having interest in safe motherhood issues in Pakistan. Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali had stepped down from the position of president of the Alliance due to her political engagements but had wished to remain in the Executive Council.