KARACHI, Feb 15: With 66 per cent of the population earning less than $2 a day, surge in the population rate was a major concern for the nation.

This was stated by Mohammad Feroze Hayat Khan, executive director Trac, at a seminar on ‘role of mass media in promotion of small family norm’, jointly organised by the Population Welfare Department, Government of Sindh (PWD) and Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi. The seminar was presided over by PWD Secretary Alam Din Bullo.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khan informed the audience that only 35 per cent of the nation chose population control programme, 33 per cent was willing but did not have the means to do so while the rest of the population – almost 32 per cent – was least bothered about it.

In his presentation on ‘demographic scenario and role of mass media’ he highlighted that the vast difference between the mortality and fertility rates was responsible for the population boom.

He also presented the estimated figures collected in this regard in the year 2006 which showed the population of the country to be 156.3 million, which he said was quite debatable.

He said in the same year the annual population growth rate was 1.86 per cent, contraceptive prevalence rate was 37 per cent, TFR 4 (5 in Balochistan) and unmet need for population control 33 per cent.

Mr Khan said the life expectancy was almost 62 years, female literacy rate 40 per cent, infant mortality rate (IMR) 85/1,000, whereas maternal mortality rate (MMR) was found out to be 500/100,000. However, he also maintained that the 97 per cent of the population was aware about the family planning programme.

The PWD Director-General, Ghulam Ahmed Bhutto, outlined the objectives of the seminar and also stated the reason for having chosen the Department of Mass Communication for the task – as media played a vital role in opinion building.

He added that our population increased by 3 million people per year, which was almost equal to the total population of New Zealand. Mr Bhutto said that the gravity of the situation could be gauged through the fact that there were 600 slums in Karachi alone; however the number would increase if the entire Sindh was brought into consideration.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, in his inaugural address said that in order to attain e maximum results out of any given task the best policy would be to plan things beforehand. If a country, therefore, plans to control the total fertility rate (TFR) then proper planning is needed, he said. He further stressed the need to create awareness about the hazards that the country might face if the population growth rate continued to rise whereas the resources were insufficient to cope up with it.

Prof Fauzia Jaffery also presented her views on the various trends in society regarding population control and family planning. After the questions and answers session, Dr Ikhlaq Ahmed, pro-vice-chancellor of the KU and Dr Fateh Mohammad of the Sociology Department expressed their opinion on the subject. Secretary PWD, Alam Din Bullo, Sadia Mehmood also spoke on the occasion.