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FAISALABAD, Dec 9: A three-day annual research conference on “Population and Policy Development in Pakistan” began here on Tuesday at the University of Agriculture under the aegis of UAF and Population Association of Pakistan.
The United Nations Population Fund is financially assisting the fourth conference, which would cover separate sessions on different topics like maternal health, infant and child health and issues of migration and poverty.
Addressing the participants at the opening ceremony, Syeda Sughra Imam, provincial minister for social welfare, said the alarming growth rate of the country’s population posed a serious threat to society.
She said men should be active partners in the awareness and process of population control. “There is a misconception among the masses that population problem is an issue that relates to the females only,” she said.
UAF Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Dean Dr Bashir Ahmad said there was a need for qualitative research in the areas of population and demography. “Without making efforts for scientific research in these subjects, any policy direction or development would not be fruitful, as there is an international demand and pressure under the WTO regime.”
British Deputy High Commissioner Mark Sedwill emphasized the need for the social marketing of contraceptives while Population Council (New York) Policy and Regional Programmes senior director Dr Anrudh Jain stressed the integrated links between research groups and policy groups in an effort to launch the practicable programme of population control.
Population Association of Pakistan President Dr Zeba A Sathar said new postgraduate programmes on population and demography were being launched in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad to frame globally accepted research initiatives so as to meet the high standards of education of the modern age.
Ms Naseem Lodhi, minister for population welfare, would be the chief guest at the closing session on Thursday.
BEATEN UP: A group of villagers attacked the teachers and students of a school at Samundri and threatened them with dire consequences, on Tuesday.
Reports said about a dozen armed men, including Hasar Ahmad, Saifullah and Amir Ali, stormed into Government High School, Chak 485-GB, and started beating the teachers and students without any reason. However, some of the students overpowered the attackers and snatched a pistol from them, making them flee.
