WORLD POPULATION DAY 11 JULY 2023

11th July is celebrated as World’ Population day through out The world. This was initiated by UNDP in 1989 when the world population approximately crossed Five Billion on 11th July 1987. Every year the theme is announced and the theme for 2023 according environewsnigeria is “Unleashing power of Gender Equality ,Uplifting the voices of Women and Girls to unlock our World’s infinite possibilities”. The Aim of this is to raise the awareness of people on various issues of population such as importance of Family Planning ,Gender Equality ,Poverty ,Maternal Health & Human Rights. According to Chairman of Technical Management Committee for the advancement of Family Planning Women and girls are inappropriately affected and to achieve the SDG 17 the implementation of Family Planning services to gross root levels is to be effective in real sense. According to Brogan Magazine 18th August 2019 Pakistan is fifth most populous country in world and according to Census Commissioner the population of Pakistan has reached approximately 249.5 Million or around 25 Corers (22nd May 2023). It is estimated that by 2030 it will reach 263 Million and the India will be most populous country leaving behind China which is first most populous country in world. There are many reasons involved in increased population a. The Birth rate is high then death rate and Pakistan has highest birth rate after Africa .It is 27.7% /1000 people while Death rate is 7.22285 /1000 people. b. The poverty is big leading cause of over population as 39% families are living in poverty with high birth rate the adults below 30 years are more which need more resources .The poor consider their children as there asset and their children work for them from childhood in this way a vicious circle is started with no end. The male child works in fields and female child also is involved in house hold work with ignoring thir education or any other skill development . c. Lack of education especially of women which deprives her from taking any decision about their health. The The Human Development Report listed Pakistan with 30% literacy rate of females. d. Women empowerment is only 20% which is lowest Globally & in South Asia (Wold Bank July 8,2022) due to low education ,Mobility Challenges and gender Norms and this is also a big factor to get access and take decision about their health and family planning services. e. Family Planning is considered as Taboo in Pakistan due to some religious norms due to which 70% women do not use any birth control method which contributes to over population. f. The studies shows that both women education & Empowerment can lead to utilize Family Planning methods as these both has major contribution in access to reproductive health services family Planning which will help to reduce poverty . g. Fertility Rate of Pakistan in 2023 is 3.238 birth /woman which was 3.300 /woman in 2022 means it has only declined by 1.88%. which is also a reason of greater dependency ratio .Ratio of dependents is 65.7% which is very much greater. h. The culture promotes to have Sons more and people has desire of having son as they think they are security of their old age (While Girls are considered as burden) and this contributes high fertility rate. i. Rapid and unplanned urbanization is major factor in determining the nature resources as people are migrating from rural to urban areas and land reserved for agriculture is utilized by Builder Mafia for multi-Story buildings and that in rural areas is also left uncultivated for many reasons leading to food insecurity. Unfortunately Government has no clear road map in real terms though it has been announced to decrease growth rate from 2.1% in 2018 to 1.5% by 2025 even Supreme Court took notice and announced to limit Two Children /Families but strong apposition raised from religious people. As 64% of Pakistan’s population is youth but Government has failed to Capitalize on Human capital like China has done. It is lack of government will as the hunger of power which is in hands of Elite class and their children either are limited or live abroad therefore government has failed to provide Recreational Facilities especially for poor ,Social Injustice, Child Marriage ,Feudalism ,lack of social engagement of poor & Middle class has lead to population into a Time Bomb which can burst.. What are solutions of these issues as we have to provide Food, Education, Health, and Infrastructure to our coming generation? a. Iran is a Muslim Country but in 1989 introduced National Family Planning Policy to reduce Fertility rate from 5.6 Births/Woman to 2.6 in a decade. b. Similarly Rwanda an African country increased contraceptive usage by Three folds just in Five years . c. UN population fund provides micro credits to young women for conducting Advocacy for utilizing RH services and promote Family Planning at root level. d. Education entertaining stories about reproductive issues on radio which are culturally specific has been a successful in various countries. e. Government incentives may be introduced and some Senior Government Official nominated who might be made responsible for addressing Population related issues. f. He should urge government to promote “Responsible Parenthood “and subsidies should be limited to the first two children unless family living in poverty (But in Pakistan 39% families are living in poverty). g. Most important factor is to advocate religious leaders in such a way that their beliefs are not hurt as they might be advocated that in Islam Breast Feeding is compulsory for two years and they should promote this which will lead to Family Planning. h. Last but not least we need all NGOS & Government work at root levels in communities and as there is duplication of services and the under privileged areas especially rural remain unserved. As we are facing two issues together i.e. Poverty and lack of education therefore they need to be addressed together.