ISLAMABAD: Integration of health and population welfare services is critical for improving the quality of life and well being of our people. Pakistan’s rapid population growth poses serious challenges for achieving development prospects and the government continues to advocate for population stabilisation to achieve balance between population and resources.
This was said by Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Nausheen Hamid while addressing young parliamentarians at an advocacy seminar highlighting overpopulation in Pakistan.
According to a statement, the event was organised by the Population Centre Pakistan in collaboration with Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and Population Council.
Dr Hamid pointed out that the role of parliamentarians was pivotal for oversight and accountability to address the population challenge. She asked young parliamentarians to become role models for their young constituents and advocate for change in fertility behaviours among youth.
Population Centre Pakistan CEO Farooq Azam asked elected representatives from national and provincial assemblies to take immediate measures for reducing the growth rate to a sustainable level.
“The critical mass of young, dynamic legislators can help increase the acceptability and dissemination of the rationale behind decisions of the Council of Common Interests to check population growth and the new messaging on balance between population and resources amongst youth,” he said.
In her remarks, YPF General Secretary and MNA Uzma Riaz highlighted the need for stronger political commitment and investment in family planning programmes in Pakistan. She said ensuring universal access to family planning was not just critical but also a cost-effective intervention for attaining sustainable population growth and poverty alleviation.
Citing Pakistan’s high population growth rate, Dr Zeba Sathar, country director of Population Council said sustainable population growth will result in less children out of school and fewer people living in poverty.
“The Council of Common Interests recommendations of 2018 provide an excellent road map for achieving sustainable population growth and need to be implemented in their true letter and spirit. Parliamentarians, both at the federal and provincial levels, have a critical role in creating a conducive environment through grass root accountability; advocacy for population stabilisation and strong policy reforms centered on capturing the demographic dividend in the country,” she added.
Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2021