KARACHI, May 04 (APP): President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi here on Saturday reaffirming government’s commitment to protect public rights to health and education said a pragmatic approach is being adopted for legislation and efficient implementation of the same.
Addressing the launching ceremony of Report on “Health as Human Right” by National Commission for Human Rights (Sindh Chapter), he said Constitution of Pakistan is a comprehensive document, however, implementation is an issue demanding strengthening of concerned agencies and departments.
With regard to recommendations made by other speakers to
incorporate health as the fundamental right of people thus turning this a state responsibility towards needs of the people, President Alvi emphasized provision for an enabling environment across the country.
“With due realization towards this basic requirement the government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure that right of people to quality health with equal provision for easy public accessibility to related services,” he said.
Appreciative of the Sindh Health Minister who in her presentation on the occasion said a bill on “Women Right to Reproductive Health,” is soon to be tabled before the provincial assembly, the President of Pakistan said equal attention is needed to raise awareness among the women about interventions available near their homes to get these protected.
On basis of his experience as a political worker, Alvi said not only modern technology can be utilized, through 75 million smart phones under use of the masses, but media along with influential segments must also be taken on board.
He mentioned that in Bangladesh imams of mosque are actively engaged in sensitizing people about health issues, while another country in the region with similar conditions as of Pakistan, is making optimum and adequate use of modern technology in meeting basic health needs.
About manifestation of government priorities and efforts to take people on board, he said during very recent past there prevailed unanimity among all people of Pakistan, across the board, about importance of peace as against war hysteria registered in neighboring country.
This attitude, he said is directly linked to the efforts being made for stabilizing economy and acquiring financial security.
Reminding that three percent population growth in the country demands a minimum 10% GDP growth to meet the requirements of the growing population, he reiterated that efforts towards prevention as well as proper management of available resources were critically needed.
Provision for clean water, proper sanitation coupled with handling of pollution in all forms and categories, he said were basic requirements for prevention of series of diseases which needed to be further complimented with education of masses to avert avoidable health conditions.
President Alvi also appreciated efforts made by NHRC for publication of the report and also thanked its compilers Kausar S. Khan, Sohail Bawani and Gulab Baloch for documenting and updating the basic facts that ought to be treated as fundamental rights of masses.
Chairman, National Commission of Human Rights, Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan, Sindh Health Minister, Dr. Azra Pechuho, Barrister Faisal Siddiqui, Ms. Kausar S. Khan and Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission – Sindh, Anis Haroon also made their respective presentations on the occasion.
Source: VNS, Karachi
