Pakistan's population to double in 35 years
Pakistan Times Health Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's population would double in next 35 years despite the reduction in population growth rate to 1.9 per cent and keep nullifying economic growth.

Federal Secretary, Population Welfare, Shahzado Sheikh said while speaking at certificate presentation ceremony of Family Welfare Workers (FWWs) here at Regional Training Institute (RTI) here Saturday.

He urged the people to understand the consequences of population explosion and help in its further reduction.

Shahzado said that maternal and infant mortality rates are also quite high in the country and the services of FWWs would play a direct role in alleviating the sufferings of mother and child.

Basic Pay Scale

He informed the new graduates that they would be working in Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 9 instead of BPS-8, which is an acknowledgement of the crucial role that they are going to play in implementing the government policies for provision of quality family planning and reproductive health services.

The Secretary said they have been trained to fill the void of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services in a conservative environment where the unmet needs are the highest in the South Asian region.

Dr. Mahroo Hamayoun

Director General, Ministry of Population Welfare, Dr. Mahroo Hamayoun said that FWWs change the attitude of the people by serving them. By their polite gesture the people place confidence in them and come for suggestions, she added.

Dr. Talat Jabeen

Principal, RTI, Dr. Talat Jabeen said RTI is working towards capacity development for Family Planning and Reproductive Health services since 1981.

She said the main job of the institute is to conduct long courses for FWWs who are the service providers of Population Welfare Programme at Family Welfare Centers. It also serves the workers on reproductive health issues conducted from time to time with close collaboration of different public and private sector
organizations and NGOs.

Talat said that present basic training course is the first of its kind to have an extended duration of two years.

Besides the usual contents of the training curricula which includes various topics related to Family Planning, Reproductive Health Issues especially of Adolescent and Elderly Women, Gender Issues, Male Involvement in Reproductive Health RTIs/STDs Including HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis and Infertility.

Dr. Shafqat Javed Sheikh

Director Clinical Training Dr. Shafqat Javed Sheikh said FWWs render their services in the best of national interest with great deal of zeal, dedication and sense of responsibility.

They can turn the fate of the country and change it into a developed and prosperous country, he added.●