Anila Ejaz
Islamabad, December 17: Media professionals were urged to spotlight the urgent challenges of Pakistan’s rapid population growth and advocate for implementing the National Action Plan to ensure sustainable development. The call was made during a Media Coalition Meeting organized by the Population Council with UNFPA support.
Critical Role of Media in Addressing Population Issues
Dr. Ali Mir, Senior Director at the Population Council, emphasized the media’s power to influence policy and raise awareness about family planning and reproductive health services. He stated, “Neglecting the Council of Common Interest (CCI) decisions will worsen economic, health, and educational crises.”
Scenarios for Pakistan’s Future Population
Dr. Saima Bashir, Manager Research, presented findings from the report “Pakistan @ 2050”, predicting two scenarios:
- Scenario 1 (Business-as-usual): Population to reach 386 million by 2050.
- Scenario 2 (CCI Implementation): Population limited to 338 million with enhanced economic growth, reducing job demand from 115 million to 97 million.
Dr. Bashir highlighted that reducing fertility rates to 2.2% could boost GDP growth to 5.1% and increase per capita income to PKR 36,000, compared to PKR 27,000 under the current trend.
Population Growth and Climate Impact
Ikram Ul Ahad, Deputy Manager Communication, stressed the link between population growth, climate change, and its disproportionate effects on marginalized communities.
Accountability Through Media Coalition
Dr. Ghulam Farid Khan of UNFPA lauded the coalition’s efforts to empower journalists in holding policymakers accountable for population and resource management.
The meeting concluded with journalists reaffirming their commitment to evidence-based reporting to stabilize population growth for a sustainable future.
