Population control: CM launches five-year family planning plan worth Rs51bn

The Costed Implementation Plan seeks to improve the postion of Pakistan on human development index

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah launched a Rs51.2 billion five-year family planning plan, Costed Implementation Plan (CIP), on Thursday.

Speaking at the event he said that human development consists of health, education and poverty. "These three elements deteriorate, if the population growth goes unchecked." Therefore, family planning and reproductive health are on top of the agenda of the government, he pointed out. "I think top of it launching of CIP would be of a great help."

Population welfare secretary Saleem Raza Khuhro addressing the event said that Pakistan is ranked 146th within 187 countries under the 'low human development category'. The population growth rate in Sindh is two per cent per year. Presently, the population of Sindh is 45.9 million, and if the growth ratio remained stagnant at two per cent, the population of the province will be 60 million in 2020, he pointed out.

Speaking about some of the important indicators of Sindh, Khuhro said that the fertility rate in Sindh is 3.9 per cent, while in 1990-91 it was 5.1 and in 2001 it was estimated at 4.8 per cent. Similarly, contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is 24.3 per cent, while in 1990 it was 9.1 per cent and in 2001, 20.2 per cent.

CIP team leader Dr Talib Lashari said that the objective of CIP is to increase CPR to 30 to 45 per cent, the need for family planning to 21 per cent and ensuring contraceptive security up to 80 per cent in all public sector outlets by 2018.

The ceremony was attended by MNA Azra Pechuho, Shehnaz Wazir Ali, chief secretary Siddique Memon, Health secretary Saeed Mangnijo, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation members.