KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that human development consists of health, education and poverty but if population growth remains unchecked, these elements will deteriorate.

He stated this while launching the Rs51.2 billion five-year Costed Implementation Plan (CIP), or what is termed as the family planning plan, on Thursday at CM House.

Pointing out that human development and overall prosperity was compromised with high growth rate, the CM said that family planning and reproductive health were on top of the agenda of his government and hoped that the launching of CIP would be of a great help.

Earlier, secretary of population welfare department Saleem Raza briefed the meeting and said that Pakistan is ranked 146th out of 187 countries with low human development. At present, the population of Sindh is 45.9 million and even if the growth ratio remains stagnant at 2 per cent, which is the present growth rate in Sindh, the population of the province will reach 60 million in 2020.

Giving some important indicators of Sindh, Mr Raza said that at present the total fertility rate (TFR) was 3.9; in 1990-91 it was 5.1 and in 2001 it was estimated at 4.8. Similarly, the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was 24.3 per cent; in 1990 it was 9.1 and in 2001, 20.2 per cent. This shows a commendable improvement.

CIP team leader Dr Talib Lashari quoted the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey and said that in 1990 the ratio of women who wanted no more births was 35.8 per cent and the same grew to 51.2 in 2012-13. Similarly, an unmet need for contraceptive ratio in 1990 was 23.9 per cent and now has come down to 20.8 per cent.

Talking about objectives and targets of CIP till 2020, Dr Lashari said that CPR would be enhanced from 30 to 45 per cent, unmet need for family planning reduced from 21 to 14 per cent, and contraceptive commodity security be ensured and increased for up to 80 per cent of all public sector outlets by the year 2018.

The chief minister, appreciating the efforts and spirit of the donor agency, urged the Population Welfare Department to achieve the targets as stated in the presentation. Later he launched the CIP document.

The ceremony was also attended by MNA Azra Pechuho, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, chief secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, health secretary Saeed Mangnijo, CIP team leader Dr Talib Lashari and members of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2015