Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday urged the need to maintain low population growth rate in the country and said it would help the people benefit from the effects of economic growth. The Prime Minister was talking to Federal Minister for Population Welfare Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, who called on him at the PM House here.
He said that human resource was Pakistan's biggest capital as demographics look attractive to position the country to continue its growth and prosperity in future. "Of the 160 million population, 100 million are below the age of 25 who need to be provided education, skills and the means to play vital role in the development of country in the years to come."
The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the ministry in conducting an effective awareness campaign for population planning and said the government would continue supporting it.
He particularly appreciated the ministry's initiative in involving Ulema and religious scholars for dispelling misconceptions about population planning and promoting use of population control techniques.
The Prime Minister also appreciated the contribution of various donors and other stakeholders in creating a public-private partnership to allow the population planning programme grow further. The minister informed the Prime Minister that the population rate in Pakistan had reduced down to 1.86 percent and efforts were underway to reduce it even further.
While discussing development projects in his constituency, he said the people of his area were appreciative of the unprecedented development projects, which created employment opportunities and improved their living standard.