Pakistan may become 4th most populous country by 2050

Pakistan would become fourth most populous country till 2050, if concrete and timely steps are not taken to address this major challenge.

The population of the country is likely to reach to 325 million till 2050 but the figure can be restricted to 270 million by introducing comprehensive policy.

These views were expressed on Tuesday by parliamentarians and health experts at an “Interactive dialogue between Policy Makers and Youth”, jointly organized by Planning Division, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Rehnuma-Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP).

Member National Assembly Donia Aziz sharing her views said family planning is not against Islam. She said the country needs a new school every day to fulfil educational needs of our population but we do not have enough resources.

Member National Assembly Dr Tariq Fazal claimed that information conveyed through media is not complete and causing damages to our younger generation.

He added that youth in the age of adolescents are facing serious health and psychological issues and there is a dire need to give them proper guidance.

Tariq said our religion gave us liberty to discuss these issue within a limit but our society and cultural norms have imposed self created ban on discussion.

Raheela Durrani, Member Provincial Assembly Balochistan opined that it is time to train parents and bridge gap between parents and children as they are the best guide to address queries of their kids.

Member Provincial Assembly Sindh Nusrat Abbasi informed the participants that she would table a bill in the parliament soon for including issues of reproductive health into curriculum.

She said hiding information is not the way to handle these problems and it is time to initiate debate on these issues for finding out sustainable solution and safeguarding future of our younger generation.

Member Provincial Assembly Punjab, Khurram Gulfam said Punjab Assembly has passed the resolution of including reproductive health information in curriculum and action would be taken on it within three month.

Member Provincial Assembly Khyber Pukhtunkwa, Shazia Tehmas Khan shared that the provincial government has taken special measures for disseminating information of Reproductive Health.

She said new Family Welfare Centres have been established where a lady doctor, a trained nurse, a midwife and supporting staff has been appointed for the assistance of masses.

Furthermore, she said, a mobile service unit has also been provided to these centres for immediately health care. “We have also registered ‘maulanas’ who would include such kind of information in their Friday Sermons with complete religious context.

Dr. Zeba Sathar, Country Director, Population Council informed that in 1951 the population of the country was 30 million and today it has increased six times and if proper steps are not taken it would become 200 million by 2018 and onwards.

Being 6th most populous country of the world, Pakistan has the largest potential in the working age group as three out of four persons fall under working age group.

Dr. Zeba said the rate of urbanization is also quite high and every one out of three persons live in cities having access to majority of resources.

Chief Executive Officer Rehnuma-FPAP Syed Kamal Shah said majority world youth hails from South Asia posing challenges to governments in the region to meet their needs.