Pakistan's pioneering Human Milk Bank - established at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) - has been suspended following a new fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Karachi.
The suspension comes after the institute sought further guidance from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).
In a dual-language statement, SICHN announced the halt of the milk bank initiative, citing recent religious decrees from prominent scholars and Madaris. The Human Milk Bank was initially launched with a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, which provided the necessary religious endorsement for the project. However, a revised fatwa dated June 16, 2024, has led to its suspension.
An official from SICHN explained, “The Human Milk Bank was established after seeking and receiving a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, which allowed us to proceed. However, due to a recently revised fatwa, we have discontinued its functionality.”
The statement continued, “At SICHN, our commitment to improving child health and neonatal care has been a driving force behind our initiatives. We understand and respect the religious and cultural sensitivities surrounding such projects and have always aimed to align our efforts with Islamic principles and values.”
The milk bank, inaugurated by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho alongside officials from UNICEF and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA), was Pakistan’s first Shariah-compliant facility of its kind. It was designed to provide breast milk to premature infants who lacked sufficient maternal nutrition.
Dr. Jamal Raza, head of SICHN, emphasized the critical need for the milk bank, explaining, “Breastfeeding is vital for babies born before 34 weeks, as these infants are often too weak, and many mothers' milk supply is inadequate. Our aim was to save the lives of these vulnerable children.”
The project, located in a government hospital in Karachi, was established following the initial fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi. However, objections from other scholars and religious groups prompted a reevaluation, leading to the issuance of a new fatwa and the subsequent suspension of the milk bank.
Dr. Raza confirmed that SICHN has now referred the matter to the Council of Islamic Ideology for further guidance, as they navigate the complex intersection of healthcare and religious doctrine.
