‘Growing population burden on country’s economy’

LAHORE: The growing population is a huge burden on the country's economy and the youth are getting fewer job opportunities. The rapid population growth is a serious problem for developing countries particularly Pakistan.

Population Welfare Department (PWD) Punjab Director General Saman Rai expressed these views while speaking in a seminar organised by Population Welfare Department, UNFPA and Mir Khalil ur Rehman Memorial Society (MKRMS), Jang Group of Newspapers on the topic of "Growing Population - Problems and Resources". M Khaliq Hamid Qadri presented the recitation of the Holy Quran.

Principal SIMS Chief MS Services Hospital Prof Dr Zahra Khanum, Vice Chancellor of Home Economics University Prof Dr Faleeha Zahra Kazmi, Medicine Director of Children's Hospital Prof Dr Tipu Sultan, Principal Lahore College for Women University Dr Aqsa Shabbir, Head of Psychology Department LCWU Prof Dr Amina Moazzam, Dr Rubina Zakir of Sociology Department Punjab University, Dr Moneeba Iftikhar of Mass Communication Department Lahore College, Head of Media Studies University of South Asia Sadia Majeed, Dr Naveed Iqbal of Mass Communication Department LCWU were the other speakers in the seminar.

Population Welfare Department Punjab Additional Secretary Technical Dr Naila Altaf presented the opening speech. She said, "We recognise the importance of addressing population growth and its impact on our resources, environment and human well-being”. On this day we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring universal access to family planning and reproductive healthcare, empowering women and girls, and addressing the root causes of population growth, she said.

Prof Dr Zahra Khanum said, "You can't imagine how much rush is there in the labour room and unfortunately, we don't consider it a serious problem. The growing population is the reason behind many problems but we can reduce our woes by creating awareness among people and the most effective method for this awareness is public service messages, she added.

Prof Dr Tipu Sultan said, "I will talk about the social sector and the medical sector together. In the next 10 to 12 years, Pakistan will become the third largest country in terms of population and in this way Pakistan can leave America behind”. He said it is not necessary to train only women in all the seminars and gatherings etc. Women are not given enough rights to speak their minds, so it is most important that the men should be blamed equally like women for the growth of population.

Prof Dr Amina Muazzam said that increasing population is a serious problem, it is playing a negative role in the development of the country and this problem is increasing day by day.

Our media needs to play an active role in controlling this problem. Media should spread awareness campaigns and send public service messages from place to place for this purpose, she added. Dr Rubina Zakar said even if a couple produced two children, it is still difficult to control population. We should convince our young generation about this problem and we need skill-based education.

First, the youth should be made aware of horrible consequences of growing population. “We should start reproductive health education from schools and if it happens, it will have a positive effect on the progress of the country”. She said it does not mean at all that you should have less children. You should consider whether you are able to distribute the resources equally among the children you are having.

Balochistan and Sindh, the smallest provinces in terms of population, and especially in Islamabad, the growth rate is higher in proportion to the population. To reduce this increasing trend of population, it can be managed with the help of data system to set up effective strategies. With the help of modern research, various campaigns can be developed on a creative basis and effective results can be achieved provided that the strategy is made keeping in mind the factors of each region and province. —