19 February 2004	Thursday	27 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: The population growth rate of the country has declined to an encouraging 1.96 per cent, Population Welfare Secretary Shakil Durrani said while quoting the latest findings of the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the concluding session of the Round-table Meeting on South Collaboration jointly organised by the population welfare ministry and the Partner's in Population and Development (PPD), an inter-governmental organization comprising 20 countries including Pakistan.

"As per the latest statistics of the federal Bureau of Statistics, the population growth rate has decreased to 1.96 per cent from the previous 2.06 per cent," Mr Durrani said. As the federal ministry of population has defedralised its operations, hence the provinces are making enormous progress on family planning programmes.

Interestingly, Mr Durrani said, the NWFP and FATA were taking lead in every initiative of the federal government focussing on family planning. Another encouraging factor that has helped achieve this target is the adequate funding provided by the federal government, he added.

"Last year, we were given Rs1.8 billion, this year this budget was increased to Rs3.1 billion and in the next financial year, the ministry was expecting Rs4 billion," he said.

Dr Donya Aziz, Parliamentary Secretary for Population Welfare, told the participants that population problem was a matter of deep concern and was on the priority agenda of the government.

She said the National Population Policy envisioned achieving population stabilization by 2020 and laid clear short, medium and long-term goals. She underlined the facts that the issue of rapid population growth coupled with low reproductive health status and low demographic indicators was a common phenomenon being faced by the member states of the alliance.

She emphasized that it was a matter of common concern and needed to be addressed with collective wisdom and international collaboration. Dr Donya was confident that despite our socio- culture diversity, there was still a great potential for sharing of experiences among the partner member countries.

She stressed the need that the partners could facilitate exchange of know-how between the member states. She expressed the hope that with the collective wisdom of all the stakeholders, this forum could be made really effective for improving the betterment of society in our region.

Executive Director, Partners in Population and Development, a South Initiative, Dr Timothee Gandaho said population planning was the core of every development plan.

He was of the view that the impact of population on development issue spelt out the need for a broader collaboration among all development partners, in the south as well as in the north.

Elaborating the activities and objectives of the partners, he said the partners had worked closely with the UNFPA and other UN agencies and organizations involved in population and development activities which were recognized by the 21st special session of the General Assembly of UN.