On the eve of International Midwifery Day 2026, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, in collaboration with the Government of Punjab and UNFPA, launches 4-Year Midwifery Degree Program at the College of Nursing & Midwifery FJMU at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal, Dr. Gulnara Kadyrkulova, Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge (OIC) for UNFPA Pakistan attended the event.
Members of the UNFPA delegation, Principal Prof. Abdul Hameed, Dean Nursing Prof. Shamila Ijaz Munir, Prof. Bilquis Shabbir, Dr. Sajjad Sarwar, Director General Nursing Ms. Tahira Parveen, Principal Nursing Ms. Khudija Mushtaq and other distinguished faculty members attended the ceremony.
In his address, Prof. Khalid Gondal expressed gratitude to the Government of Punjab and UNFPA for their valuable collaboration and continuous support. He appreciated the services of Director General Nursing and the faculty members of the Nursing College. He stated that the Urogynaecology Department is playing a pivotal role in managing complicated cases, particularly obstetric fistula.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gulnara Kadyrkulova appreciated the visionary leadership of Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal and declared Fatima Jinnah Medical University a Center of Excellence. She appreciated the FJMU’s unprecedented rehabilitation activities for flood-affected areas and reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality. She emphasized that midwives play a vital role in preventing obstetric fistula and promoting maternal and child health. She advised students to adopt patience, discipline, and hard work as guiding principles, acquire knowledge, and dedicate themselves to women’s empowerment.
Director General Nursing Ms. Tahira Parveen briefed the audience about the Midwifery Program and the role of midwives in the healthcare sector. She stated that a huge number of midwives are needed to cope with the increasing patient burden and to help reduce maternal and infant mortality. She also announced that more midwifery colleges would soon be inaugurated across Punjab.
During the ceremony, an awareness video highlighting the role and importance of midwives was also presented.