KARACHI, Dec 15: The Sindh Population Welfare Department is in the process of expanding its facilities to address the current population growth rate in the province, registered to be the highest in the country.

This was said by Mushtaq Ali Memon, Sindh Secretary for the Population Welfare Department, while briefing Abdul Rashid Khan, Federal Secretary for Population Welfare, who visited the department for the first time after assuming his new assignment.

The provincial secretary, giving details of the scheme, said his department was contemplating to increase its existent facilities in a phased manner.

He said the current number of 346 welfare centres would be raised to 416 , 34 service units to 50 and 28 rural health centres to 34, besides enhancing the number of 245 village-based male workers to 845 by the year 2004.

He also informed the federal secretary of the proposed Karachi city population setup which would be implemented from July 2003.

The federal secretary advised the provincial authorities to ensure the holding of 12 to 14 reproductive health and medical camps across the province each month.

He also underscored the need to promote the administration of NSV among men and agreed with his provincial counterpart that concerted efforts were required to ensure the maximum involvement of the male population in the issue of the high fertility rate and population explosion.

Regarding the condition of vehicles available with the Population Welfare Department, Abdul Rashid Khan asked for a detailed report to help provide replacement for mobile vans and vehicles in poor condition.

The secretary suggested improved and better coordination between public sector departments and NGOs.—APP