Islamabad (GNP): Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath stressed the importance of breastfeeding for ensuring better health and nutrition for infants.
“Together, we must ensure that every child has the healthiest start in life,” he said, while talking on the global theme of World Breastfeeding Week.
Dr Bharath said breastfeeding was the foundation of child health and nutrition and played a vital role in building a healthier and more sustainable future for Pakistan.
He said significant progress had been made in promoting breastfeeding in the country, but there was still a need to further increase the practice of initiating breastfeeding immediately after birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
The minister stressed the need for effective community-level support to strengthen the healthcare system and create a supportive environment for mothers and families.
He urged that effective employment protection measures, adequate workplace facilities, and proper implementation of breastfeeding-related laws during maternity were essential to enable mothers to continue breastfeeding.
Dr Bharath reaffirmed that protecting mothers and families from misleading advertising and promotion of breast milk substitutes remained a national priority.
He said the government was committed to promoting breastfeeding across the country in collaboration with provincial governments, development partners and civil society organizations.
Every year, the first week of August marks an important moment for the global nutrition agenda. World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)[1], taking place from 1–7 August 2026, highlights that breastfeeding is more than an infant feeding practice and a maternal health issue.
It is the foundation of a healthy, thriving child, directly contributing to child survival, while advancing equity, sustainable development and the realization of the right to adequate food.
Also read: World Lion Day Highlights Urgent Need for Conservation
Organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) with support from WHO and UNICEF, this year’s theme, Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems, highlights the need for coordinated action to ensure that families have the support and enabling environments they need to make breastfeeding possible.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
