Dr. Luay

Dr. Luay Shabaneh is the Representative of UNFPA Pakistan. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Regional Director of UNFPA for the Arab States since 2016.A native of Palestine, Dr. Luay has held several high-profile national and international public service positions over the last two decades in official statistics, population census, population and development, monitoring and evaluation, programme management and advocacy within the UN System, in government and in the multilateral arena. He served as chief statistician of Palestine from 2005 until he started his UN career in 2009 with both UNDP/UNCT and UNFPA in Iraq, and the Regional Office for Arab States since 2015 as the Regional Adviser for Population Data and Policies in ASRO.Dr. Luay holds a PhD in Applied Social Statistics from Lancaster University, UK, a Master’s Degree in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Jordan and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Baghdad University.

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Film

Saturday 1st Feb

Salma Q & A with Dr. Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA representative

Location: Hall 2 Salma, a UNFPA original film, follows the life and dream of a young girl from a rural background who is married at a very early age. The film shows her struggle with the weight of her marital responsibility and with the loss of her dreams. She has to forgo her education and any chances she had choosing her destiny. While her older husband tries to make a go of the marriage, social pressures, inherent biases and cultural stigma force them into decisions that they are not ready for.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Panel

Saturday 1st Feb

The Hidden Half-UNFPA

Location: Hall 2 Join Dr.Luay Shabaneh and Dr. Durre Nayab to explore the hidden economic value of women's unpaid work in Pakistan. From household chores to caregiving, these invisible tasks sustain the economy but limit women's access to paid employment. Dr Luay highlights how this makes for missed opportunities for women and girls as Dr. Nayab reveals how quantifying this labour highlights gender disparities and the need for inclusive policies. Discover how recognizing this contribution can drive gender equity and build a more balanced labour market.