Times Report
QUETTA : A high-level meeting convened at the Education Department, chaired by Provincial Minister for Education, Ms. Raheela Hameed Durrani, to discuss critical initiatives for enhancing Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) across Balochistan. The meeting focused on operationalizing strategic plans to address the persistent issue of female students dropping out due to a lack of basic health access.
In attendance were Secretary School Education Lal Jan Jaffar, Special Secretary Education Abdul Salam Khan, Chairperson of the MHMWG Secretariat Dr. Tahira Kamal Baloch, and Co-Chair Zulaikah Karim Buledi, along with other key officials and partners.
Minister Raheela Durrani highlighted the paramount importance of prioritizing MHH, emphasizing that ensuring proper facilities is directly linked to the benefit and dignity of girl students throughout the province.
“The twin issues of affordability of essential women’s health products and lack of adequate access remain significant barriers,” stated Minister Durrani. She added that improved MHH standards would not only dramatically help in reducing female school dropout rates but are also crucial for the overall health, dignity, and well-being of adolescent girls.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr. Tahira Kamal Baloch, Chairperson of the MHMWG Secretariat, shared the group’s ongoing efforts. She detailed the strategic roles of partners, including UNICEF Pakistan, in campaigning for meaningful MHH tax reforms to make products more accessible.
Secretary School Education Lal Jan Jaffar and Special Secretary Education Abdul Salam Khan reiterated the department’s full support for implementing these reforms, aligning administrative efforts with the political commitment to girls’ education.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the Balochistan government to work in close coordination with the MHMWG and partners to translate strategy into reality, ensuring no girl is denied her right to education due to preventable health and affordability issues.
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