11 universities announce population, development as subject while PU takes the cake

Islamabad

The Population Council convened higher level faculty meeting of the Mass Communication Departments of 11 public universities here Tuesday, where the inclusion of ‘Population and Development’ as subject in Punjab University’s Master's and Bachelor's programmes in Mass Communication was officially announced.

Dr. Naeem-uz-Zafar, member social sector and devolution, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, was the chief guest on the occasion. Representatives from 11 universities namely Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Bahria University, Islamabad, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, University of Gujrat, Punjab University, Lahore, Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak, KP, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, University of Karachi, University of Peshawar and Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, participated in the meeting.

The participants were informed of the work done by the Population Council and the Mass Communication Departments of reputed public universities from all four major provinces to establish ‘Population and Development’ as a subject in their curriculum. While the inclusion of the subject by the statuary bodies in other universities is in process, the Academic Council of the University of the Punjab has approved the inclusion of the subject in the BS and MSc programme of Communication Studies. It was expected that other universities will also follow suit.

Seemin Ashfaq, deputy director of the Population Council said that the Population Summit 2015 has been a mega event in Pakistan’s development history where a major consensuses developed by political and religious leaders has unveiled the need for concentrated efforts to improve the health, wellbeing and over-all standard and quality of the life of people by providing them with services that help them to better plan their families.

Maulana Abdul Zahir Farooqi, chief khateeb, Bahria Town Masjid, stressed the importance of girls education by terming it even more important than that of boys, as girls have to take up the mantle of motherhood and are the first source of learning for their children. Moreover, he pointed out that Ulema are role models for society and should, therefore, set an example through their conduct for others to emulate.

Maulana Zahir added that, along with good education, girls need proper nutrition and care during their adolescent years, which should not be compromised in any way as the wellbeing of future generations depends upon the health and wellbeing of mothers. He said that the rights of children i.e., proper education and maintenance of good health should not, in any way, be compromised through repeated pregnancies and it is for this reason that birth spacing is in fact permissible in Islam.

Dr. Naeem-uz-Zafar said, Pakistan has new opportunities and available resources and realities to highlight and incorporate population issues into the Vision 2025. There is a chance to further utilize the newly -volving Sustainable Development Goals , and to bring about alignment in population, health and growth strategies in the provinces.

Faculty members of different higher education institutions supported the inclusion of ‘Population and Development’ in the curriculum of Mass Communication studies to enhance understanding of population issues and their implication.

The participants were of the opinion that with the introduction of such courses, future media professionals will develop a better understanding about population issues and their implications. Most of the participants expressed that this step will not only build capacity of future media professionals but will also allow them to serve as advocates for promotion of the benefits of birth spacing in their respective communities. The participants also presented recommendation on how to incorporate population concepts into mass media products.