KARACHI, July 11: Sindh health and population welfare minister, Maj-Gen Ahsan Ahmad has assured that integrated efforts are underway at the federal and provincial levels to effectively check the population growth in Pakistan.

He said so while talking to newsmen in Karachi at his office on Thursday immediately after his arrival from Islamabad where he had gone to receive the award from President Pervaiz Musharraf for the outstanding accomplishment of the Sindh population welfare department to keep an effective check on population growth.

The minister underscored the exigency for enhancing the level of awareness among the masses against the menace of unplanned population growth in the country and the consequent poverty, lack of health facilities, shrinking job opportunities and degradation of environment.

“In order to evolve better and effective strategies, a population convention has been planned which will be addressed by Sindh governor Mohammedmian Soomro,” he added.

The minister informed that with a view to achieve the targets assigned by the President for reduction in population growth, different walks were being arranged in all the district headquarters of the province.

Sindh secretary population welfare, Ashfaq Ahmad Memon, expressing his delight over the conferment of the award on him, said he was highly indebted to the President and the Sindh health minister.

Sindh secretary health, Khalid Latif Chaudhary, talking to newsmen, said that the credit for the award accorded to him by the president in fact went to those lady health workers who were absorbed into health department from the population welfare department.

He expressed the optimism that in their new department they would continue to work with the same zeal and enthusiasm which had helped the health department get the prestigious award.—PPI