Population issues: Rs 40.5 million to be spent on public awareness

Population Welfare Department will spend Rs 40.5 million during the current financial year (2006-2007) on public awareness activities.
The amount will be spent through advertisements in print and electronic media containing the messages of "Small Family", "Family Planning" and "Mother and Child Healthcare". This campaign would be helpful in creating awareness among the masses to achieve the targets of family planning.
This was told by the Provincial Minister for Population Welfare, Mrs. Naseem Lodhi while presiding over a high level meeting, here on Sunday. Senior officers attended the meeting.
She said that under this special programme, the department would release advertisements through radio, television, private channels and print media as well. On international and national days like Youth Day, Women Day, Children Health Day, Environment Day, Aids Day, Population Day, Independence Day Defence Day, Quaid-i-Azam Day, Iqbal Day and other national days same practice would be observed.
These advertisements would contain main themes of relevant to the Day's celebration with the messages of Population Welfare, she added.
Mrs. Naseem Lodhi said that this campaign aims at educating the masses about the benefits of small family on these International and National Days. She said that apart from providing the information about the national and international days through advertisements, awareness about keeping the family according to resources could also be obtained.
Provincial minister further said that out of the amount of Rs 40.5 million, a portion of the amount would be spent on out door activities like installation of sign-boards and bill-boards as well as establishment of help desks at railway stations where a competent representative of the department would remain present and provide comprehensive guidance to the visitors.