By Amjad Yousaf Zai
Hazro : The Canadian High Commissioner Ms Leslie Scanlon has said that Canada would continue its support to Pakistan in the healthcare and social development of the country especially the empowerment of women and girls. She expressed these views while addressing as Chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of a hospital established by Pakistani-born Canadian national Parvez and Aqeel in collaboration with a Canadian-based NGO in Khorakhel village of Hazro tehsil of Attock.
Famous anchor person Syed Iqarul Hassan, prominent intellectual Syed Qasim Ali Shah, senior journalist Nisar Ali Khan, managing director Al Mustafa Trust UK Sadaf Javed, former provincial minister Jahangir Khanzada, member Punjab assembly Qazi Ahmed Akbar, social figure Nisar Ali Khan and others were also present on this occasion.
She said that the Canadian government is committed to empowering women and girls recognizing the crucial role females can play in society and ensuring their access to healthcare opportunities in their personal and professional growth. “Gender equality is not only a basic human right but also a driver for sustainable development and prosperity for all”, Ms. Scanlon added. While mentioning the deep-rooted relations between Pakistan and Canada in the field of healthcare and social development, she said “We witnessed Pakistan faced health challenges like polio eradication, understand the strength and danger faced by frontline health workers who exposed to life-saving polio vaccine to the children of the country and Canada was the first sovereign donor for eradication of polio fund for Pakistan and this cooperation spans over 70 years long term committed partnership. “Our collaboration is built on shared values of acutance, solidarity and our community continues to support for advanced healthcare wellbeing of the people of Pakistan”, she added.
She said that the Canadian government through UNFPA successfully launched the Healthy Families project for Pakistan by accelerating Reproductive Health (SRH) and Family Planning (FP) Services aimed to enhance the reproductive health and rights of women, adolescents, and youth in areas with poor reproductive health indicators. She added that the project seeks to empower them to exercise their reproductive rights without coercion, or discrimination besides providing access to safe, effective, affordable family planning methods and appropriate healthcare services for safe pregnancies and childbirth spanning from 2019 to 2024. She added that the project aimed to support pioneering a transformative approach to tackle gender and social obstacles besides empowering communities with maternal, neonatal, and child health and family planning services besides expressing commitment to fostering enduring and multifaceted bilateral relations.
