CJP dissatisfied with steps taken to contain population rate

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday expressed displeasure over steps so far taken at the federal and provincial levels to check rapid population rate. 

A three-judge bench, headed by the chief justice, was hearing a petition seeking directives for the authorities to contain rapid population rate.

Justice Nisar regretted no serious steps have been taken to raise awareness amongst the masses on the matter.

Declaring growing population a time bomb, the chief justice said the country has no resources to provide better education, health and other amenities to its population.

He emphasized that a uniform policy needed to be evolved to check current trend of population growth.

The additional attorney general informed that the population is increasing at the rate of 2.4 per cent.

He added Pakistan is now fifth most populous country and the population will double in the next three decades if the current trend of population growth persisted.

The government reportedly plans to set up Population Commission of Pakistan and Population Task Force in order to sensitize policymakers about alarming population growth rate.

The task force will work under the proposed Commission which is aimed to provide a forum to all stakeholders to deliberate on population control mechanisms and develop consensus on the implementation of other priority areas of population as mentioned in Vision 2025, 12th Five Year Plan (2018-23), London Summit on Family Planning 2012 and SDGs.