The MILKAR campaign was officially launched on October 25th in partnership with The Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Foundation, the British Asian Trust and Pakistan Mental Health Coalition. The event saw attendance from notable figures, including former Federal Health Minister Dr. Zafar Mirza, Mayor of Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Jang Group Managing Director Shahrukh Hasan, Taskeen CEO Irfan Mustafa, British Asian Trust Country Director Kamyla Marvi, Taskeen Advisor Dr Rubeena Kidwai and Taskeen COO Taha Sabri.
As the secretariat of the Pakistan Mental Health Coalition (PMHC), Taskeen in collaboration with the British Asian Trust and PMHC, developed and designed MILKAR, a year-long mental health awareness campaign aimed at increasing understanding of mental health issues, reduce stigma, and help individuals recognize early signs of mental illness and when to seek support.
During a panel discussion on multi-sectoral perspectives on mental health in Pakistan, Taskeen COO Taha Sabri emphasized the importance of a holistic, decolonized approach to mental health. He shared his personal journey, discussing how his experience with mental health challenges inspired him to advocate for the decriminalization of suicide in Pakistan and to establish the Taskeen Health Initiative.
As part of the campaign, a comprehensive directory of mental health practitioners has been developed and will soon be available online.