Controlling the increasing population is need of the hour:Zakia Shahnawaz

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Begum Zakia Shahnawaz has said that controlling the increasing population is need of the hour, for which, it is essential that besides Population Welfare Department, NGOs, teachers, Ulema, doctors, influential persons and other public opinion-making institutions should play their due role in this national movement so that the increasing population affecting the national economy could be checked.

She expressed these views while addressing a seminar on population welfare held under the aegis of Population Council in Avari Hotel, here today. Former Information Minister Javed Jabbar Sameen Ashfaq, Dr. Ali Mir, MPA Naseem Lodhi, Nagma Ashfaq, Kiran Imran, Hussain Jahanian Gardezi Shaista Kausar, Sadia Rana and Rana M. Afzal attended the seminar.

Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that all government efforts go waste due to the increasing population and besides negative impacts on every sector of life, health of mother and child is also affected. She said that if increase in population is made according to resources and planning, it will leave positive effects and help in achieving the development targets. The Provincial Minister asked Assembly Members to keep close liaison with all concerned institutions in their respective areas and arrange such activities regularly which could create awareness among the people about negative impacts of increasing population. She said that Population Welfare Department is providing reproductive health facilities free of cost. She said that information should also be provided about population welfare centers so that maximum people could benefit from it.

Chairperson of Population Council Javed Jabbar said that the proper gape in birth of children not only help in keeping a small family but also help in overcoming economic problems. He said that the reservations of the people about population planning should be removed. He said that the message of population welfare should be spread everywhere as it is necessary for the development and prosperity of the country. Earlier, Sameen Ashfaq also threw light on the aims and objectives of Population Council.