Family is at the center of the Pakistani way of life, but many Pakistanis are unaware of their right to Family Planning and its benefits.

You First Need to Understand Family Planning A healthy family life becomes a support system for an individual. For a healthy family life, it is important for you to be aware of your right to family planning. Family planning is the practice of taking intervals between births. In Pakistan’s case, Family planning was interpreted by the country’s Supreme Court as a part of right of life, which is guaranteed in the constitution.

Family Planning is not Birth Control The right of family planning encourages couples to mutually decide the number of children they will have and when they will have them. It does not encourage birth control or policies that limit the number of children a couple could have like China’s one-child policy. Family planning is also not forced abortions, which are extremely harmful for the mother’s health. Family planning rather encourages couples to practice birth spacing and empowers women to actively make decisions about their reproductive health. Many international conventions and laws in Pakistan have established family planning as a right.

Educate After Getting Educated However, due to illiteracy, societal taboos, and inconsistency of messaging on family planning, many couples in Pakistan are unaware of their established rights to family planning. In Pakistani society, especially in rural areas, it is believed that having a lot of children is a good thing. However, once you— an educated and responsible Pakistani— have learned about your right to family planning, it is your responsibility along with that of other educated and informed Pakistanis to spread awareness on this right to those who lack the same access to family planning resources or information.

Size of the Family is Your Choice If you are a young Pakistani couple, then you need to realize that family planning is your right and the size of your family must be your choice. No one can force you to have more or less children than what you want. You have a right to access services, tools and information related to family planning, and it is the duty of the state to provide you with all these facilities.

Birth Spacing Is Supported by Religion It is noted that many of you face pressure to have a child soon after your marriage, and the right to family planning does not discourage you from doing so. If you have a child soon after your marriage, then family planning encourages you to space the birth of second child. This is not only supported by our government, but also our religion. According to the Holy Quran:
“Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period].”  – Surah Baqara: 233
It is believed that as long as a woman breastfeeds, she should not conceive.