virtualvoyage-pakistan – World Partnership Walk

Pakistan

From the coastal areas of the Arabian Sea in the south to the Himalayas in the north, Pakistan is home to a blend of geographies and to 225 million people.

Explore

Dear Friends,

السلام علیکم! I’m delighted to kick off this year’s Virtual Voyage and welcome you to Pakistan.

Canadian support has deep roots in our country. Canada’s first global collaboration with Aga Khan Foundation Canada supported the creation of the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in 1981. The institution has since launched the careers of thousands of healthcare professionals, improving the standard of care in many communities in Pakistan and around the world.

The knowledge and skills of the world’s healthcare workers were pushed to the limits with COVID-19, and it was no different here. Canadian support helped us open six Emergency Response Centres, helping residents in Pakistan’s isolated mountainous communities access life-saving services during the pandemic. We were also able to support public health awareness campaigns, provide additional training for health workers, and distribute much-needed medical and sanitation supplies.

As we continue to adapt to our new realities, we remain steadfast in our commitment to improving quality of life.

Thank you for supporting our work. It continues to make a difference.

Dr. Aminah Jahangir

Regional Health and Nutrition Advisor – Asia

Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan)

Our impact in Pakistan

Nowhere has the partnership between Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and Canada been deeper and more enduring than in Pakistan. Canada’s first global collaboration with AKFC was in 1981, supporting the creation of the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan. Thousands of healthcare professionals have since graduated from the school’s programs and have gone on to provide lifesaving care in their communities, particularly in rural and remote areas.

For over the past 40 years, AKFC’s programs have broadened to include education, health, agriculture, income generation, and civil society, with a particular focus on empowering women and girls to ensure a lasting impact for all.

Pakistan at a Glance

8,611 meters above sea level is K2, the highest point in Pakistan
89 physicians per 1,000 people
59% literacy rate

In 2020

33,800 people reached through AKF-supported healthcare services in 2020
1,300 civil society organizations were supported by AKF, including women and youth-focused groups in 2020
66.7% increase in targeted health facilities with adequate infection control protocols in place to prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19, thanks to AKFC’s AQCESS program (2016 – 2021)

Our impact in Pakistan

Pakistan at a Glance

8,611 meters above sea level is K2, the highest point in Pakistan
89 physicians per 1,000 people
59% literacy rate

In 2020

33,800 people reached through AKF-supported healthcare services in 2020
1,300 civil society organizations were supported by AKF, including women and youth-focused groups in 2020
7% increase in targeted health facilities with adequate infection control protocols in place to prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19, thanks to AKFC’s AQCESS program (2016 – 2021).

FINDING HER VOICE

Adiba is from a rural community in northern Pakistan, where traditional gender roles often prevent women and girls from making decisions about their lives. As part of a youth group, Adiba and her peers discuss issues related to gender equality and develop public theatre performances on topics such as gender discrimination, gender-based violence, and women’s roles in decision-making. Learn how Adiba is helping empower women in her community – while finding her voice in the process.

Mail

Step Challenge

Share Impact

Family Activities

Step Up to the Challenge

Walk 1K to show your support for the 1,000+ community groups that AKFC works with to improve women’s health and empowerment in Pakistan. You can track your steps and spread the word through the app.

Download the app

Not registered yet? Sign up to step forward!

Share Adiba’s Story

Adiba is a youth advocate in northern Pakistan. She plays a vital role in gathering her community to discuss women’s empowerment using theatre. Inspire your friends and family to get involved by sharing Adiba’s story. You can find pre-written messages in the participant centre and the Walk app!

Visit the Participant Centre

Not registered yet? Sign up to step forward!

Have Fun with the Family

Download our family-friendly activities booklet to help children learn about the countries we visit on the Virtual Voyage. In Pakistan, children will learn about the challenges that midwives working in remote and mountainous areas face through a maze activity.

Download the guide!

Not registered yet? Sign up to step forward!