APROPOS Ms. Zakaria’s article ‘Pakistan’s gone girls’ (July 1). Pakistan’s sex ratios at birth, contrary to impressions, are in fact becoming more even than distorted. While there are about estimated two million abortions in Pakistan, there is practically no evidence of sex-selective abortions.

A recent research: “Gender biased sex selection in south Asia: the situation and promising approaches to restore balance” conducted by the Population Council, shows Pakistan is the only country in South Asia where there was no evidence of sex selective abortions.

The sex ratio at birth of 105 is close to the natural rate. However, this is not to take away the importance of highlighting the neglect of other reproductive health issues and alarming statistics confronting women and girls in Pakistan. But please let us not beat the drum about what is yet thankfully a non-existent issue.

Mansoor Qaisar

Karachi

(2)

THE author has touched upon a very important topic without any authentic references. Neither has she mentioned in her article the source of her information.

Having served in a public sector university hospital for nearly three decades, I have not come across women who will ask for termination of pregnancy on account of carrying a female child. Yes, we do come across women who will tell you that in-laws and the husband have threatened to leave them, if they give birth to another female child. We can attribute this behaviour to our patriachial society.

I remember, not long ago, when I was asking for tubal ligation at one of the ante-natal clinics, from a woman who was being given the date for a repeat third cesarean section. The woman told me that her husband had threatened that he would remarry if this time again she gave birth to a girl. This was a difficult situation, but I decided to talk to the husband. Talking to him and counseling him I was able to convince him that he was equally responsible for bringing another baby girl in the family.

I have other reasons to differ from the author’s opinion. Most of the places will not have sufficient ultrasound expertise to comment upon the gender of the child before four months, a time when fetal kicking movements are greatly appreciated, a time when carrying termination of pregnancy carries its own risks.

We can say that many unborn babies are at risk, but we cannot say that unborn girls are at risk in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr Nazli Hossain

Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

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