CII on birth spacing
Pakistan stands at a critical demographic and health crossroads. With one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world outside Africa, a population of almost 250 million, high food insecurity and limited water, there is an urgent need for population policy reforms that keep the living alive while reducing the pace of new additions. Birth spacing could be an important tool towards this goal.
The practice is straightforward — deliberate intervals between pregnancies to allow a woman's body to recover. Pregnancies too close together deplete a mother's nutritional reserves, significantly increasing risks of anemia, hemorrhage, miscarriage, and even maternal death. Adequate spacing allows her body to recover, leading to healthier pregnancies and stronger babies. It also helps women post-pregnancy, as healthier mothers can do more for their children.
Birth spacing can also lead to smaller families, as parents have the time to plan and decide how many children they can raise. A recent Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) ruling has also strengthened this argument. The CII has endorsed birth spacing for maternal health and family planning, saying Islam not only permits, but even encourages responsible family planning. This religious endorsement will go a long way in dispelling misconceptions about family planning, and could help cross cultural barriers to discuss related subjects, such as contraception.
Whether or not the government can actually capitalise on the edict, however, is up for debate. Federal and provincial authorities have failed to get contraception awareness or availability up to acceptable levels due to cultural barriers, leading to nonsensical awareness campaigns and a lack of political will caused by elected officials' fear of offending religious voters. The CII has created an opportunity for the government to actually design and implement a comprehensive, modern policy, but it is still unknown who, if anyone, is willing to take the first step.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
CII on birth spacing
Listen to article Pakistan stands at a critical demographic and health crossroads. With one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world outside Africa, a population of almost 250 million, high food insecurity and limited water, there is an urgent need for population policy reforms that keep the living alive while reducing the pace of new additions. Birth spacing could be an important tool towards this goal. The practice is straightforward — deliberate intervals between pregnancies to allow a woman's body to recover. Pregnancies too close together deplete a mother's nutritional reserves, significantly increasing risks of anemia, hemorrhage, miscarriage, and even maternal death. Adequate spacing allows her body to recover, leading to healthier pregnancies and stronger babies. It also helps women post-pregnancy, as healthier mothers can do more for their children. Birth spacing can also lead to smaller families, as parents have the time to plan and decide how many children they can raise. A recent Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) ruling has also strengthened this argument. The CII has endorsed birth spacing for maternal health and family planning, saying Islam not only permits, but even encourages responsible family planning. This religious endorsement will go a long way in dispelling misconceptions about family planning, and could help cross cultural barriers to discuss related subjects, such as contraception. Whether or not the government can actually capitalise on the edict, however, is up for debate. Federal and provincial authorities have failed to get contraception awareness or availability up to acceptable levels due to cultural barriers, leading to nonsensical awareness campaigns and a lack of political will caused by elected officials' fear of offending religious voters. The CII has created an opportunity for the government to actually design and implement a comprehensive, modern policy, but it is still unknown who, if anyone, is willing to take the first step.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
CII endorses birth spacing for maternal health
In a significant step toward addressing Pakistan's mounting public health challenges, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has endorsed birth spacing as essential for the health and well-being of both mothers and children. The endorsement came during a consultative meeting between the CII and the Population Council, where key issues relating to maternal and child health, as well as rapid population growth, were discussed. The Population Council sought the support of religious scholars to promote responsible family planning within Islamic guidelines. During the session, the Council was presented with sobering statistics, including the alarming figure that approximately 11,000 women in Pakistan die each year due to complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth. The data underscored the urgent need for awareness and policy action to protect maternal and child health. The situation for children is equally dire, according to the data. The infant mortality rate stands at a shocking 62 deaths before the age of one among 1,000 live births. Furthermore, malnutrition is rampant, with long-term consequences for the nation's youth. The Population Council revealed that 18% of children are malnourished, and 29% are underweight. Additionally, 40% of children under the age of five suffer from stunting. These challenges are compounded by an education crisis, as every third child in Pakistan is currently out of school.
Business Recorder
22-07-2025
- Business Recorder
Alkhidmat opens 70th water filtration plant in Karachi
KARACHI: Alkhidmat Karachi has inaugurated its 70th water filtration plant in the megacity under its WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) program, marking another step toward providing clean drinking water to underserved communities. The latest facility was opened in Model Colony, an area that now hosts four filtration plants operated by the organisation. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi General Secretary Taufiquddin Siddiqui, District Airport Ameer Muhammad Ashraf, WASH Program Director Gohar-ul-Islam, and other officials. A large number of locals were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Siddiqui praised Alkhidmat's consistent efforts to provide safe and accessible drinking water, highlighting that the organisation has also completed over 1,100 bore projects in underserved neighbourhoods. Mobile water vans are additionally deployed across Karachi to distribute water at public spots, including outside hospitals and government offices. Siddiqui also called for better water conservation practices, particularly the reuse of grey-water from households and mosques for gardening or replenishing groundwater through wells and boreholes. He urged mosque committees and the public to play a proactive role in conserving water. District Ameer Muhammad Ashraf commended the initiative but stressed that the provision of clean water is a fundamental government responsibility. 'While Alkhidmat's service is exemplary, access to clean water, healthcare, and education should be guaranteed by the state,' he said. Gohar-ul-Islam, head of the WASH program, shared insights into the organization's broader water initiatives. He noted that Alkhidmat runs its own water testing laboratory to ensure quality control and said clean water provision remains central to its public health mission. He appealed to philanthropists and donors to support the scaling up of such life-saving projects across Karachi. Alkhidmat's expanding network of water projects continues to serve thousands of families in Karachi, filling critical gaps where municipal supply systems fall short. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
