Provincial Minister for Law, Excise & Taxation, Finance Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has said that growth rate of Punjab will be increased to eight percent during next four years and in result of it, more than seven million people will be able to live above the poverty line whereas job opportunities will also be available to four million people.
He said 36 percent of development budget had been allocated for south Punjab so that maximum development projects would be completed in the less developed districts. He said budget allocated for education (Rs 274 billion) was 26.25 percent of total expenditures whereas the budget allocated for health (Rs 121.80 billion) was 11.66 percent of total expenditures of the government.
Talking to various delegations, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that in order to provide civic amenities to every citizen of the country there had to be check on rapidly growing population, therefore, a comprehensive awareness campaign would be launched in the province, he added. He said "increasing population affects our socio-economic conditions, as 40 million people live below poverty line, 58 million people have no access to safe & clean drinking water, 59 million people live in one room house unit, whereas, only 20 percent population have the facility of trained birth attendant."
He maintained that "increasing population is depleting our food stocks and now about 70.7 million people are facing lack of food and starvation in the world, whereas, every 6th person in developing country is the victim of lack of food." Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said 53 mini hospitals, at Tehsil level are also going to be established to provide vasectomy services. He said population welfare programmes aim at improving mother and neo natal's health as well as reducing population growth rate from 1.92 percent to 1.59 percent. He stated that non-programme outlets included active participation of NGOs, ulema, media and other community leaders.