ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday has announced to launch a comprehensive campaign to check the population growth in the country.
He was addressing at the one day national symposium on ‘Alarming Growth in Population in Islamabad organized by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.
“A comprehensive campaign will be launched on population control in media to inform the people of the problems associated with rising population and also its impact on environment,” he said adding that “everyone will be taken on board on this important national issue.”
The Prime Minister said under the campaign family planning and environment protection will be made part of curriculum.
He said that religious scholars will also be taken on board besides the media to raise awareness amongst the people about family planning.
The Prime Minister specially thanked the Chief Justice of Pakistan for taking the initiative on this serious issue.
He said we have established task forces both at the national and provincial levels to ensure implementation of family planning programs. He said we are working in coordination with the provinces on the issue of population.
Imran Khan regretted the issue was neglected in the past and every segment of the society will have to take the ownership of the campaign on population control in order to make it successful. He said latest technology including social media will be used to disseminate information about family planning methods.
The Prime Minister said rule of law is necessary to take forward any country.
He said the basis of success of state of Madina was rule of law. He said democracy and law complement each other.
Imran Khan said visionary leaders think ahead of times and unfortunately the leadership in the last three decades did not vision or plan anything for development of the country. He said short term planning does not bear fruit, and only long term planning is a recipe to success.
Imran Khan said legislation is on the cards to revamp the outdated justice system. He said we have prepared six laws including amendments to the civil procedure code.
Earlier, in his address Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said the rapid rate of population is putting immense stress on our limited resources.
He said essential resources like water are already facing pressure due to increased use by expanding population. He lamented that no attention was paid to build dams for the last 40 years.
Mian Saqib Nisar said we have to promote the better usage of water in the country to meet the requirements of burgeoning population. He said population of Pakistan could reach to 450 million in thirty years if current rate of growth is not checked.
He said media can play an important role in spreading awareness about merits of less population for national development.
He assured the government of judiciary’s complete cooperation in implementing a Madinah like state in Pakistan.
Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Dr Sanya Nishtar said serious steps need to be taken to check the rampant growth in population. She gave three point recommendations on this issue.
Renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel said Imran Khan is the first prime minister who presented the concept of state of Madinah. He said poverty and social pressures are important causes of population growth. Maulana Tariq Jameel said the issue of population control needs to be seriously taken.