KARACHI (Kashmir English): Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has suggested that women undergoing a third Caesarean section should be offered tubal ligation (TL) so as to reduce maternal mortality.
Speaking at the Fourth International Family Planning Summit in Karachi, Pechuho said the growing number of C-section deliveries was contributing to higher maternal mortality in the province.
“The mortality rate in Sindh is increasing due to C-sections. We are working on it and the results will be visible,” she said.
She further said that women presenting for a third C-section should be counselled about undergoing tubal ligation as a permanent contraceptive option.
The summit, organised jointly by Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) under the theme “Youth, Family Planning and Digital Innovation”, brought together researchers, health experts and policymakers to discuss maternal and child health challenges.
The minister said the provincial government was expanding maternity services by converting dispensaries into birthing stations and training community midwives to provide safe home-based maternal care.
Dr Pechuho also said Sindh was strengthening ambulance services to ensure timely transfer of complicated maternity cases and improving the supply chain for medicines and medical equipment at primary healthcare facilities.
Growing number of C-section deliveries
Speakers told the summit that a woman dies every 45 minutes in Pakistan due to pregnancy-related complications, highlighting the need to improve access to maternal healthcare and family planning.
JSMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Amjad Siraj Memon told the participants that vasectomy was proving to be an effective population control measure.
He said vasectomy cases in Sindh had increased from 24 in 2021 to more than 4,000 in 2025, reflecting growing public awareness.
