Politics of Numbers

By Zubeida MustafaJun 10 2016 (Dawn, Pakistan)The Pakistan Economic Survey 2015-16 reminds us of our ticking population bomb.We are told that today the country`s population stands at 195.4 million 3.7m more than it was the previous year. We have regressed. The population growth rate stands at 1.89pc in 2016. It dropped to 1.49pc in 1960-2003.Yet few express serious concern about the threat we face from our rapidly growing numbers that are undermining our national economy and destroying our social structures.Many myths have been propagated to camouflage the official apathy vis-à-vis the population sector. Thus, it is said that there is population resistance to family planning on religious grounds. Another myth goes that people are ignorant of birth control and prefer large families.These myths have been exploded by the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey of 2007 and 2014 which established that only a handful of women cited religion as a factor in their failure to limit pregnancies.As for ignorance, practically all women questioned knew of at least one or more contraceptive methods. It cannot be disputed that irrespective of the views expressed from the pulpit women are now ready to plan their families. According to the two demographic surveys, there is also a substantial unmet need. That means there is a big chunk of the reproductive age female population 40 pc according to some estimates who want to limit their family size but cannot.Then why are we failing in this sector...

Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - June 10, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Zubeida Mustafa Tags: Asia-Pacific Development & Aid Economy & Trade Education Environment Gender Headlines Health Human Rights Poverty & SDGs Religion Source Type: news