A national-level stakeholder consultative meeting jointly hosted by the Health Services Academy (HSA) and UNFPA Pakistan on 5th December 2025 in Islamabad reviewed the BS Midwifery Institutional Accreditation Checklist with the aim of advancing midwifery education across the country. The session focused on creating consistent academic standards to support high quality training for midwives and to align programmes with both national priorities and global best practices.
Participants included senior officials and provincial health leaders who brought diverse insights to the accreditation review. Speakers at the meeting included Dr. Sabeen Afzal, Joint Executive Director, FGPC/Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Islamabad; Dr. Syed Sadiq Shah, Director General Health Gilgit Baltistan; Dr. Beenish, ADI Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Islamabad; Dr. Farhat Shaheen, Director MCH AJK; Ms. Akhtar Bano, DGN Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Dr. Mariyam Sarfraz, Professor and Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, HSA; and Dr. Naila Yasmeen, Program Analyst, UNFPA Pakistan.
Deliberations emphasised the urgent need for clear accreditation standards, stronger governance mechanisms and improved support systems so midwifery institutions can deliver education that meets national and global benchmarks. Participants discussed how a robust accreditation framework and targeted capacity building will help standardise curriculum, strengthen faculty development and ensure practical training environments that prepare competent midwives.
The meeting concluded with remarks from Mr. Asif ullah Khan, Secretary Health Gilgit Baltistan, who underscored the national importance of strengthening midwifery education and highlighted the role of quality assurance and capacity building in improving maternal and newborn health indicators. He reaffirmed leadership commitment to advancing this agenda across provinces and regions.
HSA and UNFPA Pakistan reaffirmed their collaborative approach to implement the outcomes of the consultative meeting, with the shared goal of ensuring midwifery education supports respectful, quality care for every woman and enables every newborn to thrive from the very first moments of life.
