Bilawal Bhutto urges focus on population control for sustainable development

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week called upon the government and society to address the issue of rapid population growth for sustainable development and a prosperous future for all.

He emphasised that reducing Pakistan’s population growth rate could significantly improve the quality of life for its citizens.

In a statement, the PPP chairman endorsed the United Nations theme for World Population Day, “Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone.”

He noted that during PPP’s tenures, significant progress was made in addressing this critical issue.

Bilawal highlighted that public governments had undertaken awareness campaigns, accessible healthcare, and family planning measures to control population growth.

He stated that these efforts aimed to empower individuals and families to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

The PPP chairman pointed out that during General Zia-ul-Haq’s dictatorship, the rapid population growth in Pakistan severely harmed the cause of population control.

He further said that Ziaul Haq promoted fanaticism for political gains while suppressing rational and moderate thinking. As a result, the Pakistani nation faced numerous challenges, including controlling the growing population, he added.

Bilawal emphasised the need to promote education on family planning and support maternal and child health programs. He argued that investing in these sectors could reduce the population growth rate and improve the standard of living for Pakistani citizens.

He urged everyone to work together to build a future where every child matters, every mother is healthy, and every family is prosperous. “Undoubtedly, we can achieve this together,” he added.