HYDERABAD: All planned efforts of the Government to become self-sufficient in food and to raise the per capita income are being nullified by the pressure of population growth in Pakistan [Sept 24].

This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Sanghar, Mr Salahuddin Qureshi, while addressing a convention of Union Council Secretaries organised by the District Family Planning Board at Sanghar recently. The convention was also attended by Development Officers and Supervisors.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is also Chairman, District Family Planning Board, Sanghar, said that the galloping growth rate of population which is particularly more pronounced in the Asian countries hampers the developing nations in their efforts to raise the living standard of their people. The economic planners of Pakistan, he said, are genuinely concerned at the rising tide of baby booms as the already limited resources of the country can no longer bear the strain of population growth.

He said the problem has assumed an international significance and efforts all over the world were being made to control the population at an optimum level so as to provide the people with the basic necessities of life.

He explained that recurrent food shortages aggravate economic problems. The facility of preventive and curative medicines has reduced the mortality rate, resulting in the general rise in population. On the other hand, checks on population growth, such as famine, floods and epidemics, have been immensely reduced because of technological breakthroughs.

Mr Salahuddin said Pakistan’s family planning scheme is based on the methods of birth control so as to reduce the growth rate of population from three per cent per annum to two per cent per annum by 1970.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2017