An amount of Rs 7.5 billion has been allocated in the current fiscal year budget for the completion of developmental schemes in southern Punjab. A big project, with the cooperation of Asian Development Bank (ADB), is under way for the completion of water supply and drainage schemes, waste water treatment plant and link roads in these areas.
Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said here on Friday that the provincial government was giving priority for the socio-economic development of the less-developed areas and funds were being provided for this purpose.
However, she said that rapid population growth was an unbearable burden on the economy, therefore, by striking a balance between the population and resources, "we can ensure solution to many socio-fiscal problems."
She said that population growth issues could be addressed through collective efforts by all segment of the society, including social workers, teachers, religious leaders and scholars.
She said that under the Prime Minister's initiatives in the five years programme, the number of population welfare centres, presently established for 10,000 population, it would be increased by setting up these centres for population of 7,000 and later 3,000 people.
The reproductive centres, presently established at the district headquarters level, would be set up down at tehsil level, and added the number of male mobilisers, presently working at population of 20,000 persons, would be increased by setting up these centres at population of 10,000 people and social mobilisers would be appointed in all tehsils of the country, under the programme.