KARACHI:
Currently, Pakistan’s population is more than 225 million and is expected to continue growing. This should be a cause of concern for everyone because the country is running out of resources to cater to such a large population. We are already faced with a multitude of problems including abject poverty, high illiteracy, and widespread unemployment. With the continuous population growth, these issues will further intensify and give rise to other social evils such as high crime rates, violence, trafficking, etc.
In the past, family planning campaigns have been hampered by clerics and local leaders. They have deemed these campaigns a Western concept or an agenda against Muslim populations. Consequently, family planning remains a sensitive topic in Pakistan and most leaders refrain from publicly addressing the issue. However, we cannot ignore the problem any longer.
The federal government needs to work with the healthcare department, civic and non-governmental organisations, local clerics, and other stakeholders to launch an effective family planning campaign. Despite health risks, many women continue bearing children due to familial pressure or poor awareness. Thus, general healthcare should improve awareness and access to contraceptive methods. Political representatives should also undertake the responsibility of informing people of the consequences of a high population rate.
Hafeez Ullah
Kech
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2022.
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