Speakers at the moot outlined their propositions on how to boost economic growth despite the country's rising population level and discussed the demographic and socio-economic challenges facing Pakistan. They believed that the negative impact of the growing population of the country badly needs to be reversed to streamline economic affairs in the face of demographic and socio-economic challenges.
The experts expressed their views at the inaugural session of 13th Annual Conference on "Population Wellbeing: A Development Imperative", organised by the Population Association of Pakistan (PAP) in collaboration with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) here at the IBA campus.
The Conference was attended by high ranking officers including four vice chancellors of reputed Pakistani institutions. The Guest of Honour at the inaugural ceremony, Mr Muhammad Javed Malik, Federal Secretary Population and Planning, Planning and Development, Government of Pakistan said that concerted steps were needed to accelerate Pakistan's growth indicators and reverse the negative trends which were affecting the welfare of its population.
He said that efforts were required to reverse the stagnant contraceptive rate, improve access to services that will allow Pakistan to improve the health and wellbeing of its people . He said that to achieve developments goals, economic growth must be sustained and that can only happen if population growth is checked.
He stressed the need for sustained political commitment to the population issue. He mentioned some of the measures that the present Government was taking for population welfare. The quality of services being offered especially to women in the rural areas had improved, he stated.
The keynote address of the conference was delivered by Professor John F May, who is the Visiting Fellow, Centre for Global Development, USA. Professor May spoke at length on how best to tackle Pakistan's growing problems associated with its rapid population growth. He emphasised the need for more advocacy, empowerment of women, linking increasing access to family planning with female education and income generation These measures will help in benefiting from the skills of a youthful population currently available to Pakistan and also lead to a reduction in fertility.
The Dean and Director Institute of Business Administration, Karachi Dr Ishrat Husain formally welcomed the guests and said that Pakistan's economy would have been maintained at a level which would have been four times greater since the 1960's if the population growth rate had increased by 2 percent instead of 3 percent. He said that the political impetus to reduce population growth seen in the sixties must be reinvigorated. He stressed the need for enhancing accountability at all level of government to ensure that family planning services are universally available.
In her opening remarks, Ms Shahida Azfar President, Population Association of Pakistan outlined the objectives of the conference. She said that urgent steps were needed to reverse the negative impact of a rapidly growing population that impedes developmental efforts degrades the environment and dilutes economic gain. Dr G M Arif Vice President, Population Association also spoke on the occasion.
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