Pakistan's high population rate poses high socio-economic risks

ISLAMABAD: Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, stated that Pakistan's high population boom was having an adverse effect on the country's socio-economic development and called for a broad-based national campaign to publicise public awareness.

In an interaction with leading journalists at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Arif Alvi emphasised the media's critical role in tackling population and health issues and challenges.

The conference was convened in response to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) request to engage the mainstream press to encourage them to convey the word about population management as the country confronts a 285 million population expansion in 2030.

Arif Alvi stressed the media's potential to influence public opinion and behaviour around family planning. He added that concentrating on the population issue in television chat shows and drama serials could also effectively reach the audience.

Additionally, Arif Alvi highlighted the importance of political will and the active participation of lawmakers in leading a broad advocacy movement for population management.

Furthermore, Arif Alvi urged the media to broadcast public service messages in addition to using their platforms to raise awareness about the country's worrying population growth rate.

He lauded the Ulema for their constructive contribution in promoting awareness about family planning and referred to his idea of Friday sermons by academics using the platform of the Presidency's Mosque to address many social issues.

He noted that Islam places stress on mothers breastfeeding their infants for two years, which may help achieve proper birth spacing and combat stunting and malnutrition.