Daily Times

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said his government is taking steps to eradicate polio.

He said this during his meeting with UNICEF representative Abdullah Fadil and un Resident Coordinator Mohammad Yahyah in Karachi, the Chief Minister’s Spokesperson, Abdul Rashid Channa, said.

Provincial Education Minister Sardar Shah was also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said we have included elected representatives in anti-polio campaigns and are making efforts to strengthen the immune system of children against polio virus.

He said the Sindh Government is also working on stunting among children.

The spokesperson said climate change and environment also came under discussion.

The Sindh Chief Minister informed the officials that they were constructing 2.1 million houses for the flood affected people and are also considering installing solar system in them.

He thanked unicef for its cooperation.

Murad Ali Shah also met United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) regional director PIO smith.

Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, UNFPA’s representative in Pakistan Dr Luay Shabaneh, Unfpa Sindh Head Muqaddar Shah and Programme Analyst Renuka swami were also present in the meeting.

According to the chief minister’s spokesperson, the meeting discussed matters related to family planning and increasing population.

The Chief Minister said the Sindh Government is taking steps to control pollution, and is ensuring the availability of family planning services at all health centres.

UNFPA regional director PIO smith stressed the need to raise awareness among people about increase in population.

PIO smith said the aim of family planning is to ensure a healthy family.

Murad Ali Shah said a population task force has been established, adding that their aim is to bring down the 2.55 per cent rate increase in population.

He said population in Sindh is more than 55 million, which has been rising due to births and migration.

The Chief Minister said provision of health, education, environment, food, houses and employment opportunities is becoming a challenge.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the Taskforce on Population Growth in Karachi.

Addressing the meeting, he said that the 2023 digital census indicates a national population surge, with an annual growth rate of 2.55 per cent.

He termed the high birth rates and significant migration from within Pakistan as two key drivers of population growth in the province.

The chief minister said the increased population has placed immense pressure on the province’s limited resources, affecting job availability, healthcare, education, housing, and food supply.

Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted his government’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the socio-economic effects of rapid population growth.