ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday said unchecked population growth was a major challenge in ensuring sustainable growth and needed immediate attention of the provincial governments.
Talking to a delegation of Population Council headed by its Country Director Dr Zeba A. Sathar (Tamgha-i-Imtiaz) at Prime Minister Office in Islamabad, Khaqan Abbasi said there was a need for greater investment for enhancing access and quality of service delivery in that sector especially for the people of far-flung areas and to integrate these programs with health service delivery programs being provided at gross root levels.
The delegation included Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir, Director Programs, Ms. Seemin Ashfaq, Dr. Hanid Mukhtar, senior economist.
Dr Zeba A. Sathar presented an overview of the demography of the Country and its impact on economic growth in comparison with other Muslim Countries of the world as well as Countries in the region.
The Country Director Population Council also presented Council’s recommendations which could help to overcome the challenge of rapid population growth and encourage the provincial governments to undertake effective measures for managing population growth.
The prime minister assured the delegation that the issue would be taken up with the provincial governments at the platform of Council of Common Interests (CCI) for a consensus-based national strategy.