Islamic Ideology Council okays human milk banks in Pakistan

After a long delay and much criticism, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has finally approved the establishment of human milk banks in Pakistan, saying that they are permissible under strict conditions.

However, the Council stressed that a clear legal framework must be developed to prevent misuse and ensure full compliance with Islamic injunctions.

The decision was taken during the CII’s 243rd meeting in Islamabad, where members reviewed a request from the Sindh government seeking guidance.

It should be noted that authorities suspended Pakistan’s first human milk bank, established in 2023 by the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in collaboration with UNICEF, after it faced religious concerns and public criticism.

ICC said the system must operate on a strict one-donor-to-one-infant basis, with no milk pooling allowed.

It also requires detailed, transparent record-keeping to avoid any future complications related to family lineage and milk kinship (raza’at).

The human milk bank initiative had been halted in 2024 due to objections rooted in Islamic concerns over milk kinship.

Following the CII’s ruling, paediatric specialists and health advocates have welcomed the development.