It is a matter of great concern for every sensible citizen throughout the country that despite all measures taken and motivation done for decades together, population continues to grow at a rapid pace as a result of which the resources are falling short of the requirements for overall progress and development. As a matter of bitter fact, population growth, be it Pakistan on the whole or Punjab province, has already passed red line and problem is real and needs to be tackled effectively by the Punjab Government on priority basis.
Unless the whole issue of population growth is reviewed, effective measures suggested and enforced all the initiatives being taken under inspiring leadership of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for ushering in era of progress, development and prosperity in the rural and urban areas of the province will continue to be under great stress and eaten away by the ever increasing feeding mouths.
Speakers drawn from different walks of life at a seminar recently held in Lahore on “Family Planning and Challenges” organised by the Strategic Planning Unit Punjab in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund had frankly admitted that despite a marginal decline in child and mother mortality rate, still there is dire need for better communication and awareness for family planning which is somehow still considered a taboo.
It was further stated that it would be disastrous if committed efforts are not made to address it, need was stressed for a most robust media campaign on the issue of population growth and resources as proportionate balance between population and resources is essential foundation stone for a harmonious with law and order. It was quite rightly further submitted by the speakers that the population explosion is undoubtedly a grave problem, unemployment and population growth is directly linked and poor health and hereditary diseases are the result of not only poor but rather very poor population planning, to say the least.
Since as a consequence of the 18th Amendment in the Constitution, population welfare has also come under control of the Punjab Government, it is humbly expected of the CM, who is always working for the welfare and well-being of the masses and launching more and more development projects , will also take stock of the alarming population growth . Needless to emphatically state that population explosion menace continues to have adverse effect on all efforts for increasing resources generation in the province for funding more and more mega projects for providing basic amenities and facilities to the people at their doorsteps all over the province.
Momina Bilal Shaikh
Lahore