ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), under its seventh country programme (2004-08), will provide $30 million ($6 million per year) to the government of Pakistan.

The was said at the conclusion of a two-day consultative meeting for the finalization of proposals on GOP-UNFPA Seventh Country Programme for the years 2004-2008, here on Saturday.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to arrive at a consensus for the Country Programme Document which will be presented by UNFPA to the UNDP Executive Board for approval in its meeting scheduled to be held in New York this year.

More than 100 delegates from various federal and provincial departments, AJK, NGOs, donors and made their presentations in this regard.

As many as five various sessions were held during the two-day consultative meeting. At first session, the issues related to population were discussed. Second and third sessions concentrated on priorities for action and critical analysis of the programme with the fourth and fifth session summing up the proceedings.

All the delegates were agreed that district level participation in planning, monitoring and implementation of Reproductive Health and population activities would be useful in checking the population growth in Pakistan.

Ms Nilofer Bakhtiar, advisor to the prime minister on population welfare and women development, speaking as chief guest on the occasion said population control in the country would only be possible through the joint efforts of public and private sectors partnership.

She said population control was a must for poverty eradication and economic development hence all the stakeholders should cooperate with each other for the cause.

Country Representative of UNFPA, Oliver Brrasuer said the ongoing present population growth rate (2.1 per cent) was a critical issue of Pakistan.

However, he was optimistic while mentioning the cordial relations, which had evolved over the years between the local and international stakeholders for the said cause.

He said the population issue must be addressed with a multi-sectoral approach and private-public partnership was important to achieve the goals of population welfare.