Political parties urged to prioritise sustainable population growth
“Inclusion of family planning and population welfare indicators in political parties' manifestos is a marker for political leadership to implement these commitments when in power to improve development indicators in the country,” said the former senator and veteran politician of Pakistan Peoples Party Farhat Ullah Babar.
He expressed these views at a Consultative Dialogue on, “Prioritising Population Issues and Family Planning in Political Parties Manifestos” organised by the Population Council in Islamabad.
The Consultative Dialogue was attended by the members of all major political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Balochistan National Party (BNP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), and Awami National Party (ANP).
In her welcome remarks, Country Director Population Council Dr Zeba Sathar said that it is important to align the manifestos of political parties with the Council of Common Interests (CCI) National Action Plan 2018 to reduce Pakistan’s rapid population growth rate.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2023.