FAISALABAD City News

Call to create awareness regarding

increasing population hazards

From Our Correspondent

FAISALABAD: The population of the country will double in the next 37 years if the current population growth rate of 1.49 prevails while the situation will also create different crises including food insecurity, unemployment, health, energy and water shortage.

It was said by various speakers while addressing a seminar on population organised by the Department of Rural Sociology and District Population Welfare Office at the New Senate Hall of the varsity here on Wednesday. The event was chaired by University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. Speaking on the occasion, the VC said that the population was increasing with tremendous pace but the resources were diminishing. He called for creating awareness among the people about the hazardous impact of the growth. He said that small and healthy family was a need of the hour for which massive awareness campaign should be kicked off. He said that 50 per cent of our population comprises youth and if we equip them with skills, the country would rapidly move towards progress. He said that the world’s population was 7 billion that would rise to 9 billion by 2050. He said that natural resources like water were shrinking that would also worsen the situation. Distinct Population Welfare Officer Dr Farkhanda Almas said that the country’s population growth rate was one of the highest in the developing world. Scholar Sadiqur Rahman said that the country’s population was 35 million at the time of inception of the country, which had risen to 190 million. He stressed upon the need of birth spacing to ensure the good health of mother and infant. Prof Dr Ashfaq Ahmad said that massive urbanisation was creating problems including conversion of agricultural land to housing societies and depletion of water and environment. Tehsil Population Welfare Officer Atif Ali said that one billion people were added in the world’s population during the last 15 years, which was alarming. Dr Adeeba Anwar, Dr Nusrat Gulzar and others also spoke.