July 12, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, July 11: The unbridled population growth is a big hindrance in the way of reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, achieving economic empowerment and ameliorating the condition of the common man.

This was stated by the advisor to the prime minister on women development, social welfare and special education, Nilofer Bakhtiar, after inaugurating an exhibition at the Rawalpindi Arts Council here on Friday.

The exhibition highlighted the works of the students of National Textile College from Lahore and Gujranwala branches.

Mr Bakhtiar said, each year, the country’s population saw an increase of 3.1 million, which was the highest ratio of population growth in the region, and a matter of grave concern for policy-makers as well as the citizens.

She said there was no balance between the resources and population of the country due to which, at present, “we have to double the number of schools and create hospitals having more than 40,000 beds”. She said in 2020, “we have to make double the number of our doctors to ensure availability of health facilities to the people.”

Ms Bakhtiar said the ever-burgeoning population increased poverty in the country, owing to which the government was facing numerous problems while implementing new public-friendly schemes and polices. She urged the people to adopt and promote the culture of small families to overcome poverty.

She said due to massive unemployment, the physically- challenged people could not get their two per cent job quota. According to official record, she said, special persons constituted three per cent of the total population. While, according to unofficial statistics, the figure came to 10 per cent.

The advisor to the prime minister maintained that owing to a large number of special persons, it was also becoming difficult to give them relief from Pakistan Baitulmal or provide them jobs.

During the current financial year, she said, the government would implement Social Security Scheme for the aged people.