President stresses birth spacing amid rising population

Says issue affecting country's resources and causing many social, economic problems.

ISLAMABAD:

President Dr Arif Alvi has called for accelerating efforts to reduce the population growth rate and lower the total fertility rate in the country.

He stated these views while talking to Senator Waleed Iqbal and Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, who called on him, at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.

Expressing concern over the growing population, he said that the increasing population was not only affecting the limited resources of the country but also created many social and economic problems.

He underscored the need for making integrated efforts by the provincial and federal governments to create awareness and promote family planning services to check the alarming population growth.

Dr Alvi said that malnutrition and stunting were major health challenges that could be addressed by promoting optimal breastfeeding practices in the country.

He urged the ulema and the media to play their role in promoting family planning and educating the people about the importance of birth spacing, which was highly essential for the child and maternal health.

Appreciating the efforts of the president to check the increasing population, the senators assured that they would play their role in an individual capacity to sensitise and guide the people about the implications of an increasing population.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2021.