Population welfare minister Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain said the International Ulema Conference on Population and Development will be held in Islamabad from May 4-6. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will inaugurate the conference. Imam-e-Kaaba, Imam Masjid-e-Nabvi and scholars from other renowned countries will also be among participants, he added. He told a press conference on Saturday that 54 eminent ulema and scholars from 29 countries will attend the conference. He said main topics of the conference include population and development, mother and child health and gender equality.
He said the conference is aimed at bringing together ulema belonging to all sects on one forum to discuss development issues in accordance with Islamic principles.
He said key scholars and thinkers of the Muslim world have been invited to share success stories on social development in their countries. The minister said at the end of the conference a joint declaration will be signed by all participating scholars. UNFPA is collaborating with the ministry of population for making the conference a success.
When a newsman questioned the working of NGOs, parliamentary secretary for population Doniya Aziz said most of the NGOs take funds from foreign donor agencies.
When asked if the minister is satisfied with the progress of the population programmes, he said that he is somewhat satisfied with the progress achieved so far.