ISLAMABAD: “Media should elevate facts over assumptions, as it becomes a force for better governance and better outcomes”, said Senior Director Population Council Dr Ali Mir while speaking to participants of the meeting.

The meeting was held by the Population Council, in collaboration with the Information Service Academy (ISA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to strengthen the media’s role in advancing Pakistan’s National Action Plan on population under the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Dr Mir emphasised that sustainable progress depended on media highlighting policy gaps, service barriers, and community realities.

Director of the Information Service Academy Adnan Akram Bajwa reaffirmed ISA’s commitment to supporting journalists through credible information and professional capacity building. “Public trust in institutions grows when reporting is grounded in accuracy and clarity. Media is not just a messenger; it shapes how families understand their options and how institutions respond to their needs,” he added.

In his remarks, Ikram ul Ahad, Manager of Communication, Population Council, underscored the human impact of Pakistan’s reproductive health challenges. He noted that maternal mortality remained disproportionately high among poor rural women who face persistent barriers to family planning services.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2026