Understanding the Piyari Beti Portal

One of the standout features of the portal is its focus on awareness and self-empowerment. The information is available on the platform (guidelines in Urdu and English Languages) that covers a wide array of topics from reproductive health knowledge to careful sharing of personal information and how to keep your physical health optimal in order to cope with societal and day-to-day challenges.

Fostering Confidence and Independence

The portal’s role extends far beyond just providing information - it aims to foster confidence and independence among adolescent girls. Adolescence is a time of immense physical, emotional, and social transformation and most of the young girls, especially from humble settings, face challenges such as societal expectations, gender biases, and a lack of support for their aspirations. The “Piyari Beti Portal” acknowledges these challenges and provides a platform for girls to explore their interests, make informed choices, and access opportunities that empower them to shape their own future.

Addressing Societal Barriers

Another crucial aspect of the portal is its role in challenging and addressing societal barriers. Gender inequality and discrimination continue to be major hurdles for adolescent girls, particularly in rural and underserved areas across the country. Through the portal, girls gain access to resources that allow them to challenge these stereotypes, push for equal opportunities, and assert their rights.

Accessibility and Privacy

The portal is accessible 24/7 online on the UHS website, while a dedicated helpline (042-99232088) and email pyaribeti@uhs.edu.pk will allow girls to consult health experts and seek advice or report issues in complete privacy and confidentiality. The portal, helpline, and email services are staffed by dedicated female professionals who prioritize confidentiality and provide a safe and supportive channel for innocent girls to feel safe and supported while navigating some of the more sensitive issues in their lives.

A Collective Responsibility

While initiatives like the “Piyari Beti Portal” represent significant steps toward empowering adolescents, it is essential to remember that the success of such efforts is not just the responsibility of the government or the platform creators. Empowering adolescent girls is a collective responsibility¾one that involves families, communities, schools, and society as a whole. As a society, we must work together to remove the barriers that hinder the growth and development of adolescent girls.

Some of the standout initiatives include the Kamyab Jawan³ program, launched by the United Nations Development Programme in 2018, which supports youth in conflict-affected areas by promoting constitutional recognition, social protection, and equal opportunities for active participation. Aahung⁴, a Karachi-based NGO founded in 1994, promotes sexual and reproductive health through its Life Skills Based Education program. Initiatives like the Meri KahaniProject empower young girls to openly discuss puberty, mental well-being, and abuse, fostering awareness and resilience from early schooling years. Menstrual Hygiene Management Program⁵, supported by the Government of Pakistan and NGOs like WaterAid and Aahung, is a nationwide initiative that promotes menstrual hygiene education through school programs, workshops, and product distribution in underserved areas. The campaign also launched Aao Baat Karein, Pakistan’s first animated film on menstrual hygiene, to break taboos in an engaging way.

In conclusion, the Piyari Beti Portal stands as a testament to UHS Lahore’s commitment to empowering young girls by providing access to vital information, resources, and support. It not only helps them navigate their adolescent years with confidence but also prepares them for the challenges of tomorrow. Furthermore, the University also plans to expand this concept through a comprehensive research project on needs assessment and subsequent health education while introducing adolescent reproductive health as a part of the medical and allied health curricula across the Punjab.

Empowering adolescent girls through this platform is not just an investment in their futures - it is an investment in the future of the nation itself.

List of abbreviations

Conflict of interest

None to declare.

Grant support and financial disclosure

None to disclose.

Ethics approval

Not required.

Authors’ contributions

FA, ZIE: Both authors conceived the idea, provided critical intellectual input, drafted the manuscript, and take full responsibility of the final version of the manuscript to be published.

Authors’ Details

Farzana Andleeb, Zoyya Imtiaz Elahi

1. Drug Controller/Chief Pharmacist, College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Kala Shah Kaku, Campus, Pakistan
2. Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan