Pakistan population will double in next 37 years if the current population growth rate of 1.49 prevails. It will aggravate crises including food insecurity, unemployment, health, energy, water and land issues as every year 2.9 million people are added to the country population.

Pakistan population will double in next 37 years if the current population growth rate of 1.49 prevails. It will aggravate crises including food insecurity, unemployment, health, energy, water and land issues as every year 2.9 million people are added to the country population. It was echoed at the seminar on population that was chaired by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at the New Senate Hall. The seminar was organized by Department of Rural Sociology and District Population Welfare Office. Addressing on the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan showed his concern that the population was increasing with the large pace whereas resources were diminishing. He called for creating awareness among the people about the hazardous impact of the growth. He said that the small and healthy family was the need of the hour for which massive awareness campaign be kicked off. He said that 50 percent of our population comprises youth and if we equip them with skills, the country will rapidly move towards progress. He said that the world population was the 7 billion that will rise to 9 billion by 2050. He said that natural resources like water and others are shrinking that will also worsen the situation. Distinct Population Welfare Officer Dr Farkhanda Almas said that country population growth rate was one of the highest in the developing world. She said that half of the world population was living in only six countries including Pakistan, China, US, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India. She said that all-out measures were being taken by the government to educate the people about the benefit of small family size. Scholar Sadiq-ur-Rehman said that the country population was 35 million at the time of inception of the country which had risen to 190 million. He stressed upon the need of birth spacing to ensure the good health of mother and infant. Prof Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Maann said though due to rising trend of the girls education, mean age at marriage is increasing but we need to spread the message in the rural areas. He said that the UAF is used to conduct awareness seminar on the impact of the increasing population. He said that massive urbanization was creating problems including conversion of agricultural land to housing societies and depletion of water and environment Tehsil population welfare officer Atif Ali said that two third population of the world would be living in urban areas and would suffer from water, food and health like issues. He said that from the last 15 years, one billion people were added in the world population. Dr Adeba Anwar and Dr Nusrat Gulzar said that five children were being given birth in a minute.