ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb asked provinces to create their own population ministries. Addressing ceremony here to mark 70th anniversary of establishment of Population Council, she announced that government will soon unveil national emergency plan to control population explosion.

She stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called meeting of National Task Force next week and provinces will be represented in meeting. She noted that world’s population has reached 8 billion this year, of which 230 million is Pakistan’s population and that in 75 years, country’s population had grown from 40 million to 230 million. 

Emphasising issues with public services, such as education and health they become more prevalent as population grows. Following 18th Amendment, issues like education, health and public services are responsibility of provinces, she added. “There is need to create national narrative on these issues of national importance and all stakeholders should be involved in formulation of narrative,” she said. Goals were clearly defined in declaration adopted by National Conference held in Parliament in past and declaration of conference is also signed by provinces. In order to attain desired goals through policymaking, legislation and narrative formulation, “These goals and recommended measures need to be revised.”  She applauded planning department has done great job in past and played key role in regard to give awareness to general public of issue. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 02 2022

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