CM discusses youth policy action plan with UNFPA

The two sides agree to form a working group under the local government

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Dr. Luay Shabaneh discussed the development of the Youth Policy Action Plan.

They also talked about setting provincial targets for Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR), fertility, and population growth. Additionally, they discussed integrating Life Skill-Based Education into the school curriculum.

In April 2022, the UNFPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh government to collaborate and partner in various areas. Under the agreement, the Sindh government will empower the Research and Training Wing to facilitate informed decision-making in the Planning and Development Department, disseminate the National Narrative on Population, implement the recommendations of the Council of Common Interest on Population and Family Planning, and support a multi-sectoral coordination platform for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response. This platform will serve as a mechanism for creating synergy and allocating resources across key sectors such as governance, health, police, justice, and social sectors of the Government of Sindh.

The CM and the visiting UNFPA country chief also discussed the Activity Plan, Communication Strategy, and Draft TORs for the constitution of the Working Group.

Murad and Dr. Luay Shabaneh agreed to form a Working Group on CRVS under the local government.

The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended by Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Secretary Health Irfan Baloch, Secretary Population Hadi Bullo, Secretary Social Protection Dept Rafiq Mustafa and others. Renuka Swami, Khurram Arslan and others represented the UNFPA at the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2024.