Senator Sherry Rehman, who serves as Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party, suggested forming collaborations between the corporate sector and diagnostic labs to offer free or reduced-cost breast cancer checks, while recommending a dedicated drive for women in October 2027.
Speaking through Zoom at a breast cancer event hosted by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, Rehman suggested starting a trial screening initiative across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which could later grow to cover the entire country.
She asked the chamber to unite three large diagnostic labs to investigate offering free or discounted checks, stating that such a step would represent major advancement for early detection.
Rehman requested companies to integrate breast cancer evaluations into corporate social responsibility activities, providing care for female staff as well as female relatives of male workers.
She mentioned that one out of every nine women in Pakistan confronts the danger of breast cancer, with numerous instances undetected and sufferers lacking prompt care.
She pointed out the scarcity of testing centers in distant and countryside locations, pointing to social stigma and cultural hurdles as impediments to education and prompt detection, and observed that numerous women remain unaware of testing locations.
Rehman emphasized that breast cancer must not be viewed exclusively as a women's matter, urging broader public education along with better availability of testing and medical care.
Expressing worry regarding the heavy breast cancer toll in Pakistan relative to other Asian nations, she stated that registry numbers fail to capture the complete scope since numerous instances go unreported.
Relating her own background, Rehman stated that her mother battled breast cancer, giving her personal insight into the struggles women experience while fighting the illness.
She praised the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry for hosting the event, mentioning that the commercial sector can contribute significantly toward tackling societal issues alongside financial duties.
She suggested bringing in lab officials to confer on logistical plans for free or discounted checks, and promised to persuade fellow politicians to back the project.
Rehman stated parliament could act as a meeting ground for uniting commercial figures, civil society, and other groups to debate breast cancer education and testing access, while asking business figures to leverage their connections for spreading information and promoting timely checks.
She additionally pointed out pay gaps and bias experienced by women laboring in residences, agricultural lands, and manufacturing plants, asking the commercial sector to assume a larger part in safeguarding female health, and stated her willingness to collaborate with commercial figures to push education and enhance testing availability.
