NCG to be established under Ministry of Population: Rahim
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Caretaker Federal Minister for Health, Ijaz Rahim has said that a National Core Group supervise by Ministry of Population will be constituted both at Federal and Provincial level.
He expressed these views while addressing the ceremony of signing memorandum between the Ministry of Population and Ministry of Health here on Thursday. He said that establishment of the National Core Group would aim at to overcome the morality rate and ministry of population can effectively address this menace by utilizing all available facilities. Director General Health, Maj. Gen. Shahida Malik, UNFPA, World Bank, DFID, Population Council, WHO and representatives of the other world organizations were also present on the occasion.
On the occasion, Caretaker Federal Minister for Ministry of Population, Prof. A. J. Khan has termed the agreement between two ministries a big achievement of the caretaker set up.
According to the agreement, Ministry of Population will assist more than 6000 basic health units and lady health workers working under the ministry of Health and create awareness among the people of far-flung areas about the family planning and mother-child health care.
He further said that if ministry of health and population go hand by hand then there is no doubt that we will be able to achieve population rate of 1.3 percent till 2015 rather 2020.
Similarly, he said that according to the agreement, a National Core Group comprising representatives of the ministry of the Federal and Provincial ministries of health and population would be constituted.
The National Core Group will also meet after every four months. Both Ministry of Health and Population will preside over the meeting. The National Core Group will also keep the Cabinet Committee for Social welfare informed about its efficiency time by time.
A separate Departmental Committee headed by Programme Manager for lady health workers who visit door to door would also constituted.