Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while launching Rs 51.2 billion 5-year `Costed Implementation Plan' (CIP) or what it is termed as family planning plan, has said that human development consists of health, education and poverty. "These three elements deteriorates if population growth goes unchecked", this he said while addressing the ceremony held here Thursday, said a statement.
The ceremony was attended by MNA Azra Pechuho, Shehnaz Wazir Ali, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Secretary Health Saeed Mangnijo, Secretary Population Welfare Department Saleem Raza Khuhro, CIP Team leader Dr Talib Lashari and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation members.
He said that human development and overall prosperity is compromised with high growth rate. Therefore, family planning and reproductive health are on top of the agenda of his government. "I think top of it launching of CIP would be of a great help," he hoped.
Secretary Population Welfare Saleem Raza Khuhro briefing the meeting said that Pakistan is ranked 146th within 187 countries `under the low human development category'. The population growth rate in Sindh is 2 percent per year. Presently, the population of Sindh is 45.9 million and if the growth ratio remained at two per cent, the population of the province would touch 60 million in 2020.
Giving some important indicators of Sindh, Saleem Khuhro said that presently total fertility rate (TFR) is 3.9 percent while in 1990-91 it was 5.1 and in 2001 it was estimated at 4.8 percent. Similarly contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) is 24.3 percent while in 1990 it was 9.1 and in 2001, 20.2 percent. This shows a commendable improvement.
CIP Team leader Dr Talib Lashari quoting Pakistan Demographic health Survey (PDHS) said that in 1990 ratio of `Women Want no More Births (WWNB) was 35.8 percent and the same grew to 51.2 in 2012-13. Similarly, `Unmet Need for Contraceptive' ratio in 1990 was 23.9 percent and now it has come down to 20.8 percent. Talking about objective and target of CIP upto 2020 Dr Lashari said that CPR would be enhanced from 30 per cent to 45 per cent, unmet need for family planning from 21 per cent to 14 per cent and to ensure contraceptive commodity security up to 80 per cent for all public sector outlets by 2018.
The CM Sindh appreciating the effort and spirit of donor agency urged the Population Welfare Department to achieve the target as stated in the presentation. Later, the Sindh CM launched the CIP document.