PESHAWAR: Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (SACM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the Population Welfare Department, Malik Liaqat Ali Thursday emphasized that ensuring access to family planning and reproductive health services was the top priority for the provincial government.
This initiative aims to curb the alarming increase in the province’s population, he said, while addressing a one-day seminar on World Population Day organized by the Population Welfare Department.
Malik Liaqat Ali highlighted the need for public awareness regarding population control. He called upon scholars and intellectuals to play an active role in educating the youth about family planning to prevent rapid population growth.
The seminar was attended by Secretary Population Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mutasim Bilah, Director General Population, and other officials from the department, as well as people from various walks of life.
In his address, Malik Liaqat Ali said that the main purpose of celebrating this day was to draw the people’s
attention to the problems arising due to the population growth and lack of resources.
The solution to the economic and social problems of the growing population is essential. All efforts for development and prosperity prove futile when every member of society lacks access to basic needs. For Pakistan to develop and stand among the developed countries, sustainable and effective family planning must become a part of the national security model, he said.
He further added that controlling the population increase was crucial for maintaining a good and prosperous life. He pointed out that Bangladesh, which once had a higher population than Pakistan, has successfully controlled its population growth through effective strategies and the support of religious circles.
“Pakistan’s population will double in the coming years if not addressed, posing significant challenges for both families and the government. Overcrowded cities and poor maternal and child health are among the issues that will arise. The relationship be
tween population growth and socio-economic development is well established”.
He said our neighboring and Muslim countries have progressed manifold by investing in family planning and reproductive health. Our progress does not match that of countries where these investments have been prioritized. We are lagging behind in many development indicators compared to our neighboring countries, he expressed
He reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to family planning and reproductive health, despite the challenges ahead. He stressed the importance of partnership and cooperation with the government, people, relevant departments, and non-governmental organizations to achieve sustainable population growth for the province’s development and prosperity. “We are here to serve, and we will work for the welfare of the people as much as we can,” he said. He assured that the government is committed to ensuring that people receive their rights, and that any kind of abuse or corruption will not be tolerated in govern
ment offices, following a zero-tolerance policy.
Secretary Population Department Mutasim Ballah and other speakers also addressed the seminar, emphasizing the importance of family planning and reproductive health in achieving socio-economic development.