KARACHI, June 26: The need for breaking the age-old religious and cultural taboos to overcome the population explosion was stressed at a seminar held here on Thursday.

The day-long media seminar, organized by the population welfare department, Sindh, was chaired by the provincial Minister for Population Welfare, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh.

Highlighting the importance of population control and people’s welfare, the speakers called for declaring the subjects a top national priority for which, they said, much higher allocation should be made in the budget.

Warning was also sounded out that if corrective measures were not taken and both male and female segments of our society were not actively engaged in consciously resorting to modern approach, Pakistanwould become the fourth most populous country in the world in the next few decades, with a population of 340 million, after China, India and the United States, suffering a severe strain on its national resources.

Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Sheikh referred to the birth and mortality rate in the country and said that media could play more proactive role in reaching out to the couples and convincing them that having less children was also important fo their own health and better living.

He cautioned that if the problem was not handled realistically, the planners would not be able to ensure provision of health, education, safe drinking water, transport and healthy environment to the masses.

He also spelt out targets set out by his departments for the next five years to control population explosion problem. In this period, he said, the government would be trying to reach at each union council through family welfare centres. He said that efforts were also being made to bring down reproductive health centres and mobile service units at taluka level.

Mr Sheikh pointed out that although the federal government had earmarked Rs3.729 billion for the purpose but, he said, at least Rs5 billion would be required, besides a sustained media campaign, to accomplish the task.

He was in agreement with other speakers that population growth rate was not only linked to shrinking resources, but also associated with its dire impact on the general wellbeing of mother and child.

The minister said that the delivery of modern services through family welfare centres at union councils was being planned. Services of mobile units and reproductive health would be provided at taluka and tehsil levels, he added.

Salahuddin Haider, Adviser to the chief minister on information, underscored the need for making the language of material, developed for creating consciousness in targeted population, as simple and understandable as possible.

He referred to the role of Indian media in addressing the issue and creating awareness in masses.

The speakers expressed their apprehension that the scenario might take a serious turn unless a comprehensive approach, keeping in view the local conditions and environment, was adopted. They stressed that a little motivation could bring about a positive change in public attitude.

Those spoke at the seminar included Mushtaq Ali Memon, Mahtab Akbar Rashidi, Sajjad Mir, Qasim Jalali, Aslam Qazi, and Tahir Khan.