–UNFPA launches annual ‘State of World Population Report-2019’
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Monday launched its annual ‘State of World Population Report-2019’ in Pakistan, calling for the full realization of reproductive health and addressing the impacts of high population growth.
“Global evidence has shown that preventing unwanted pregnancies, reducing early marriage and pregnancy among young adolescent and decreasing maternal mortality can contribute to the reduction of poverty, “Representative UNFPA Pakistan Lina Mousa said addressing the launching ceremony of the report.
The report was launched under the theme ‘The unfinished business: The pursuit of rights and choices for all.’
She said the family planning programs provide a win-win solution for poverty reduction.
The evidence is compelling as voluntary family planning programs improve the health and survival of mother and children, empowers and helps women and their families to escape from poverty.
Lina said the political environment in Pakistan is so promising with political framework including the launch of the prime minister policy statement- Ehsaas in April 2019.
This is a ground breaking initiative for reducing inequality and eradicating poverty and this initiative has as well as recognized the population and family planning, as one of the key pillars, she added.
She said, “We must take advantage of these political frameworks, Council of Common Interest recommendations and Ehsaas, among others and collectively contribute to the implementation of Naya Pakistan and ensure a more prosperous and sustainable future for the people of Pakistan.”
The UNFPA representative said the launch comes at a time where UNFPA and its partners, are making this year two important occasions one is 50 years since 1969, the UNFPA started its operation and 25 years since the landmark international conference on population and development (ICPD) in Cairo.
She said, “The report takes us through this remarkable journey of how population and development has evolved since 1969. It captures the progress made, especially guided by ICPD in 1994, and continues to show us what remains to be done in order to fulfill the vision of ICPD in respect of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and choices for all people.”
She said Pakistan and the UNFPA have a long history of genuine partnership, that started 49 years ago and Pakistan has become the first ever country where the UNFPA launched its multi-year country program in 1970.
She said Pakistan while realizing population challenges and keeping in view the ICPD agenda, and being the sixth most populous country in the country in the world with a population of almost 208 million, has taken bold steps in 2018 to address the impact of high population growth on sustainable social, economic and environment.
“The high population growth rate in Pakistan, as stated by the Prime Minister Imran Khan, demands urgent attention. Accelerating efforts to ensure population stabilization is critical to taking forward and achieving the goals of development as enshrined in the vision of Naya Pakistan.”
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Dr Sania Nishtar said Pakistan is committed to contributing to the realization of agendas set by the International Conference on Population and Development, which was held in Cairo in 1994.
She said, “We will continue to advance the development of Pakistan’s population cause while advocating concepts of putting people first, making informed choices, and achieving sustainable development.”
She said the government is committed to address the issue of high population growth and many innovative programmes have been launched engaging provinces and district governments besides other stakeholders.
She said high level political commitment is also required in provinces to address the issues related with the population growth and its impact on human life.
She added allocation of resources is crucial at all level to address population related issues.
She said institutional arrangements are being made and steps are being taken for ensuring the protection of rights of women in the country however there is still a long way to go before all women and girls have the power and means to fully realize their rights, she added.
UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne said achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health is not only a matter of rights, but it is also crucial to achieving other global development objectives, including the sustainable development goals.
He said that to achieve the goal, governments, civil society and international organizations can strive for three zeros included no unmet need for contraception, no preventable maternal deaths and no violence or harmful practices against women and girls.
