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PESHAWAR, Jul 29 (APP):Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Population Welfare, Malik Liaqat Ali, has expressed grave concern over the unchecked population growth in Pakistan, warning that if effective measures are not taken, the country’s population could surge to 490 million in the next 27 years—posing unmanageable challenges for future generations.
Speaking at a Ulema Conference organized by the Population Welfare Department in collaboration with UNFPA at a local wedding hall, Malik Liaqat emphasized that the growing population is exacerbating economic and social issues.
“If we do not build a dam against this flood of population, the consequences will be beyond anyone’s control,” he remarked.
The conference was attended by Director General of Population Welfare Rehan Gul Khattak, district officers of the department, and a large number of religious scholars and khateebs from Mardan, Buner, and Swabi.
Addressing the gathering, religious scholars highlighted the importance of population welfare in the light of Islamic teachings.
They stressed the significance of breastfeeding and appropriate intervals between births.
The scholars noted that population planning is permissible within certain limits when aimed at the welfare of society and humanity.
Malik Liaqat Ali reiterated that “having children is not an achievement, what truly matters is their proper care, upbringing, education, healthcare, and overall development.”
He noted that rapid population growth contributes to poverty, unemployment, and social evils, and urged for a comprehensive national strategy to address the issue.
He appealed to religious leaders to use their sermons to educate the public on the importance of population balance and to help create awareness through a responsible and balanced narrative.