Family-planning debate at Nasra school mun in collaboration with Greenstar
Karachi. Nov 25, 2019: The Education Trust Nasra Schools (ETNS) organized its annual Model United Nations (MUN) called NASRAMUN on 23rd and 24th November, 2019. The intelligent council members and special committees at the NASRAMUN 2019, discussed the “Population” agenda in great detail, while also suggesting effective solutions to the major challenges due to large family-size in Pakistan and its impact on the provision of basic amenities to the population. This insightful event with speeches and debates was held in collaboration with Greenstar Social Marketing (GSM) – an independent network member of Population Services International.
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi and Trade Director For Pakistan – Mike Nithavrianakis was the Chief Guest at the event, along with the Chief Executive Officer of GSM – Dr Syed Aziz urRab and the Trustee & Treasurer of ETNS – Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali (S.I.), was accompanied by the Managing Trustee of ETNS – Mr. Amir S. Fancy. The NASRAMUN 2019 attracted the largest number of delegates including more than 700 students and 1000 participants at the ETNS Main Campus in Saddar, Karachi which included students of ETNS (Korangi, Malir, Super Highway, North Karachi and Saddar campuses), 20 students from Nasra Public School (NPS), faculty, guests and as well as 120 students participating from other schools namely The Educators – Lucknow Campus, Beacon Light Academy – Maymar Campus, Karachi Public School – Safavi Campus and Alpha College – Shahrah-e Faisal branch.
This is an extra-curricular activity in which students typically play different roles as delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees. The delegates formed a virtual ‘Pakistan National Assembly’ (PNA) to discuss the population-explosion, its socio-economic and environmental impact. The PNA discussed its impact on the provision of basic amenities in Pakistan due to large family-size, while also reviewing the foreign-relations of Pakistan. Moreover, the event was also supported by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).
Speaking on the occasion, the British Deputy High Commissioner – Mike Nithavrianakis said: “It is a pleasure to see the Pakistan’s youth engaged in meaningful discussions, to find long-term solutions for socio-economic issues, to nurture a sustainable society. The basic purpose of Model United Nations is to provide the youth with the opportunity to participate in insightful dialogues, preparing them to become leaders of tomorrow, inculcating in them a sense of diplomacy, tolerance, negotiation and leadership nationally and globally.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Greenstar Social Marketing – Dr Syed Azizur Rab stated that: I would like to thank all the delegates and participants who discussed socio-economic research studies with respect to population boom in Pakistan, while sharing their knowledge with the audience. This was an inspirational forum that promises to generate debate and create awareness in Pakistan, about the population challenges in Pakistan, while also discussing important aspects like; Maternal Health, Economic wellbeing of the deprived segments, family-planning practices, etc. These deliberations will go a long way in the socio-economic progress of Pakistan. Family Planning is a human right and responsibility to improve health and economic well-being of families.GSM is a social enterprise operating a family planning program in Pakistan since 1991, with ‘Sabz Sitara’ as its flag-ship brand.
The Education Trust Nasra Schools (ETNS) was conceived in 1949 in 2 rooms of the home of its founder – the late Ms. Nasra Wazir Ali (Sitara–e–Imtiaz), with the mission to provide affordable quality education for children of low to low-mid income families. ETNS was formally registered in 1950, under the Trusts’ Act 1882. Since then, it has grown to 5 large purpose-built campuses in Saddar, Malir, Korangi, Super Highway and North Karachi; to educate the deprived children in the most densely-populated areas of Karachi, comprising of religiously diverse, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic communities.
Dr SeeminJamali, Executive Director – JPMC, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour for the closing ceremony on the 24th of November and awarded the delegates with their awards.
