ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has formed a high-powered ‘National Population Council’ to promote policy-making and institutional coordination related to the growing population in the country, a formal notification of which has been issued.
According to the official notification issued by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the Prime Minister of Pakistan will be the chairman of this newly formed council, while Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has been included as a key member of the council.
In addition, the Chief Ministers of all four provinces of the country, the Prime Minister of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir State and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan are also part of the permanent members of the council so that a uniform and coordinated strategy can be adopted to solve this important problem at the national level.
Federal Ministers and Council Structure
According to the notification issued, the composition of the Council has been made very comprehensive, which includes the most important federal ministers related to the country’s economy, education and health.
Other permanent members of this high-level Council include the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
The Chairman of the Council will also have the discretion to make any other minister, secretary or expert in the relevant field part of the Council as a co-opted member, as required.
Main Objectives and Scope of the Council
The main objective of the establishment of the National Population Council is to formulate an effective, far-reaching and sustainable national policy to control the rapidly growing population in the country.
According to the rules and regulations of the notification, this council will take concrete steps to create a national consensus on population control and promote public support for this campaign.
Along with this, this council will also be responsible for creating complete institutional coordination in all measures and programs related to population between the federation and the provinces.
Role of civil society and clerics
The council will mobilize all social and religious stakeholders to make the nationwide population control campaign successful at the grassroots level. Under the notification, religious scholars, civil society representatives, and the private sector will also be regularly involved in this important national campaign so that public awareness can be spread effectively.
The government believes that only with the joint participation and cooperation of all communities can this major challenge of the growing population be tackled.
