Population planning vital for development: PM
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said population growth rate has to be controlled so that the benefits of economic growth reach to the maximum number of people. He was talking to Minister for Population Welfare Chaudhary Shahbaz Hussain who called on him here at the Prime Minister House. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the ministry in conducting an effective campaign for population planning and said the government will support this effort in every way.
He particularly appreciated the initiative of the ministry in involving the Ulema and religious scholars in dispelling misconceptions about population planning and promoting use of population planning techniques across the country. The Prime Minister also appreciated the contribution of various donors and other stakeholders in this connection in creating a public private partnership to allow the population planning programme to grow even further.
He said that Pakistan’s biggest capital is its human resource. Out of 160 million population, 100 million people are below the age of 25, who have to be provided education, skills and the means to play a vital role in the development of the country in the years to come, the Prime Minister added.
The Minister for Population Welfare informed the Prime Minister that the population rate in Pakistan has reduced to 1.86 percent and efforts are underway to reduce it even further. While discussing the development projects in his constituency he said that the pace and scope of development is historic and appreciated by the people of the area. He said that farm-to-market roads, gas, electricity, water and sanitation facilities have made a material change in the life of the people. He said that the government of PML and allied parties has delivered this to the people, which will augur well for the coalition in the upcoming elections.