Burgeoning problem: Family planning issues need to be addressed, urge speakers

Population Association of Pakistan hosts seminar on population control

KARACHI: Issues related to family planning and reproductive health need to be addressed, urged speakers on the final day of the 17th Annual Research Conference on Saturday.

The event, which was held at the Aman Tower of Institute of Business Administration, was organised by the Population Association of Pakistan.

It is high time we control the population of Pakistan, emphasised the speakers during the session titled 'Investing in Family Planning for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'.

Family planning is central to achieving SDGs, said National Commission on the Status of Women chairperson Khawar Mumtaz. We need to emphasise on family planning and women's right, she said, adding, "Peace and wellbeing at home will bring peace and wellbeing in society".



Compared to the 1990s, population issues have relatively declined but we still need to focus on them, said United Nations resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme resident representative in Pakistan, Neil Buhne.

"The rapid population growth has diminished people's choices in Pakistan," he said. Bunhe remarked that it is impossible to achieve the SDGs with such a high birth rate. In Pakistan, it has become an accepted norm to have big families, he said. However, the number of children in a family has decreased from 12 to six in the country over the years, he shared.

Speaking about the event, Population Association of Pakistan president Shahnaz Wazir Ali remarked that they aim to promote family planning to control the rising population in the country. In order to control the population we need to educate our women, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2016.