PESHAWAR: Recognizing the socio-economic challenges posed by Pakistan’s rapidly growing population, media professionals have been urged to create awareness about the importance of family planning and reproductive health. Take an active role.
This was the main theme of a coalition meeting for the media on reproductive health and family planning organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Adviser on Media and Communication Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif attended as Chief Guest.
Organizers said the event was aimed at establishing a media group to promote dialogue and coverage on family planning, sexual and reproductive health and violence against women. Planning and reproductive health.
He explained that SDPI is forming media groups in provinces to monitor progress, identify policy gaps and highlight challenges through investigative stories and programming. Mah Jabeen Qazi, Provincial Program Coordinator of UNFPA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave an overview of UNFPA’s efforts in cooperation with health and health. Departments of Population Welfare
Revealing the alarming trends of population growth, he said that the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to increase from the current 51 million to 89 million by 2050. Mehjabeen Qazi highlighted the effects of maternal abuse, including malnutrition in children due to inadequate maternal attention.
Furthermore, he pointed out that by 2040, Pakistan will need about 14 million new jobs to meet the needs of its growing population, adding to the already high unemployment rate. The speaker explained that many couples were not ready to have more children but often felt pressured by family elders, such as in-laws, to expand their family.
The UNFPA representative also shared eight recommendations of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for population control, which advocate the concept of “balance” (balance) in family growth.
Dr. Shahid Maskin Khan from UNFPA KP gave a presentation on Population Action Plan and National Commitment. He pointed out that lack of access to family planning medicines is a major obstacle in many parts of the country. However, he noted that the government is working on manufacturing these drugs locally to ensure widespread availability.
Barrister Saif stressed that rapid population growth is a critical issue that cannot be ignored. “To meet this challenge, we need to change societal attitudes and remove the stigma surrounding family planning,” he said. Must work.” He urged the media and religious scholars to sensitize people on the need for family planning, making it more of a resource rather than a religious concern. Declare essential for heavy use.
Barrister Saif suggested leveraging social media platforms to spread the message, recommending involvement of prominent bloggers and influencers to effectively reach large audiences. The meeting concluded with a commitment to mobilize media resources to promote awareness and take meaningful action on family planning and reproductive health.