LAHORE : Minister for Health and Population Khawaja Imran Nazir has said that the objective of World Population Day is to raise public awareness about the importance of maintaining a balanced population for sustainable development.
Khawaja Imran Nazir announced that the Health and Population Department will soon launch an Ambassador Programme under which university and college students will be appointed as brand ambassadors to play an active role in promoting awareness among young people about reproductive health, responsible family planning, and population-related issues.
He added that raising awareness among youth, women, and all segments of society is the need of the hour. He added that a comprehensive and coordinated strategy is also being developed in collaboration with religious scholars from all schools of thought to effectively communicate positive messages to every section of society.
The minister reaffirmed the Punjab government’s commitment to continuing serious and effective measures to address the challenge of rapid population growth.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar held to mark World Population Day. The event was attended by the Chief Minister’s Adviser on Health and Population, Saira Afzal Tarar, senior officials of the Health and Population Department, development partners, experts, and representatives from various walks of life.
Khawaja Imran said that the integration of the Health and Population Welfare departments is a major reform initiative of the Punjab government aimed at providing citizens with essential healthcare and family planning services under one roof. He said that healthy and balanced families form the foundation of a prosperous society, and access to quality, safe, and affordable family planning services is a fundamental right of every citizen.
The minister said that balanced population growth is essential for the equitable distribution of national resources, sustainable development, and an improved quality of life. He added that CM Punjab has directed all relevant institutions to work on a war footing to address the challenge of rapid population growth through coordinated efforts.
