ISLAMABAD: Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, the Prime Minister’s Health Coordinator, stated on Wednesday that people needed to be made aware of the enormous problem posed by the population boom.
He was at the Health Ministry meeting with Ms. Latika Maskey Pradhan, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Together with other senior Ministry executives, Dr. Shabana, the DG of Population, and Dr. Jameel, the program specialist for UNFPA, also attended the meeting.
A statement said that the meeting focused on family planning concerns, maternal and child nutrition, and the difficulties brought on by population growth.
Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed emphasized the importance of family planning, saying, “We could not impose family planning, but we would educate the common man regarding its impact on him and his family.”
The Ministry of Health and UNFPA will work together to arrange a symposium on the subject and will produce proposals that will make it easier for the average person to comprehend the detrimental effects of population growth.
He also mentioned international estimates that predicted Pakistan’s constantly growing population will make it a water-scarce nation by 2030.
The UNFPA Representative recognized the government’s interest in and efforts to address the issues of overpopulation, unintended pregnancies, and public health.
She reaffirmed that UNFPA would provide the government with all of its assistance and collaboration in order to carry out evidence-based programs targeted at lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies.
She went on, “This involves supporting awareness campaigns and bolstering healthcare systems to deliver high-quality reproductive health services.”
