Digital Birth Registration launched

A new project has been launched by Plan International Pakistan to increase the number of birth registrations. The unique thing about this project is the use mobile phones to carry these out.

Dubbed the Digital Birth Registration (DBR), the project has been a joint effort between Plan International Pakistan in conjunction with the provincial government and health departments. The initial participant districts in the health plan were Chiniot in Punjab and Sujawal and Tando Muhammad Khan in Sindh. Local civil society departments also contributed to the project with the telecom partner being Telenor.

In appreciation of the new Digital Birth Registration system, the chief, Dr Asma Hyder, Member Social Sector, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, said that the provision of universal education and health would only be possible if every citizen was known. She said that that would only be possible if a strong CRVS system was put in place. The new Digital Birth Registration system, she said, was one of the most important steps towards the future the government wanted.

Imran Yusuf Shami, the acting country director, Plan International also voiced his support for the new registration system by saying that it was a major step that would help the country grow.