On Wednesday, 6 June 2024, PODA Lahore Office conducted an educational session on menstrual hygeine and reproductive health of women at UC 165, Tehsil Qublawala, Village Malikpur, District Pakpatan. The session was facilitated by PODA Rural Woman leader Ms. Zakia Nawaz and attended by 31 participants. The speaker highlighted that awareness about proper hygiene and nutrition should be given to girls from middle school years. The women pointed out that due to poor nutrition, marrying girls at a young age and early pregnancy negatively impacts girl’s health and education rights.

Jungni Theater by PODA presented a theatre for change that engaged the audience to demand to a legal amendment to raise the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 years in Punjab. They invited the audience to make a list of the disadvantages of early marriage. The participants enjoyed the theater and also demanded that CNIC must be made mandatory for all marriages. This session was part of the project “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality,” funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Islamabad.