Efforts underway to slow down population growth in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi:District Population Welfare Department was taking all measures to create awareness among the masses about the importance of family planning and extending relevant services so that marginalised and young people could plan their families.

Talking to media, District Officer Sherry Sukhan said that the department had organised around 576 camps in various areas of the district, including Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahutta, Seri Chiniota, Bagla, Barhana, Jandala Gula, Bhandala and Karina to create awareness among people to control the rapid growth of population last year. She said that Rawalpindi was the third most populated city in the province, and due to its important location, educational and commercial activities, the city’s population was constantly increasing. Sherry added that to cope with the challenge of population growth in Rawalpindi, the department was taking various practical steps with the support of other governmental and non-governmental organisations, scholars, intellectuals and journalistic organisations.

Giving details of the activities of the population department, carried out during the last year, she said around eleven sessions had been conducted for counselling and guidance of aspiring couples about the challenges of population explosion. Sherry added that seminars were also organized at all district girl’s schools and colleges.

At the same time, awareness sessions on puberty, psychology, proper diet and other physical ailments issues were also held at Fatima Jinnah, Agricultural University and Government Women University, Rawalpindi. The population officer added that more than 200 religious scholars had been registered in 2022 to create awareness for removing misconceptions about family planning.