ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (APP): The Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution, calling for a coordinated national effort to curb Pakistan’s rapid population growth and prevent the country’s demographic dividend from turning into a “demographic time bomb”.
Central Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Sherry Rehman moved the resolution in the House.
Moving the resolution, Sherry Rehman said Pakistan’s population had reached 241.49 million, placing unprecedented pressure on national resources.
She described rapid population growth as one of the country’s most overlooked challenges, affecting households already struggling with water insecurity and increasing climate vulnerability.
She said the pressures were also affecting nutrition, education and human development. Many people were unable to access adequate nutrition at the right time, while limited resources had to meet the needs of a growing population, she added.
Sherry Rehman said the country’s education system was under particular strain, with 26 million children out of school. Rapid growth also affected the quality and quantity of human capital and placed added pressure on schools, hospitals, farms and household resources, she said.
The resolution called on the government to take all necessary measures, in coordination with provincial governments, parliamentarians, public and private sector officials, media practitioners, religious scholars and community leaders.
It urged a “whole-of-country” approach to reduce the population growth rate through intensive information campaigns, expanded family planning services, scaling up the Lady Health Workers programme, budgetary incentives and improved delivery of reproductive health services.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
