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Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday expressed surprise over a debate regarding family planning and its connection to religion, wondering "what the nation had gotten itself into".
Is the country capable of supporting seven children per family, he asked. "The rate at which the population is growing in the country is [no less than] a bomb."
Also read: Exploding population bomb
A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, headed by the CJP and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was hearing a suo motu case pertaining to increasing population in the country.
Commenting on Justice Nisar's remark about whether birth control is allowed in religion or not, Justice Bandial said that "there are relevant verses in the Holy Quran regarding [there being a] gap between children".
During today's hearing, the health secretary told the court that the government did not have a monitoring system in place to regulate health centres or keep records of the growth in the country's population.
He said that in Indonesia — the country with the largest Muslim population in the world — authorities held an awareness campaign in mosques to educate the population about the importance of population control.
The representative from Punjab Population Welfare Department (PWD), however, argued that during the 1970-80s, the growth rate of population was 3.7 per cent, whereas now it had fallen to 2.4pc. He added that the government "cannot stop anyone from having kids".
The CJP said that 2,100 welfare centres in Punjab had "zero performance" and plans were only on paper.
When asked about the budget allocated to the welfare centres, the Punjab deputy secretary responded that in addition to the Rs3.6 billion that is provided by the Public Sector Development Programme, the department receives around Rs1.5 billion annually.
The CJP demanded representatives from the Population Welfare Department to tell the court about the policies formed by the government to control population growth and criticised them for "receiving salaries for doing nothing".
He said that the country does not have the resources to feed so many people and added that a single policy must be implemented throughout Pakistan.
Expressing concern over the ballooning population, Justice Nisar said that the authorities need to take immediate action to control the situation. He ordered all stakeholders of the case to submit recommendations to the court and adjourned the hearing for a while.
Following the adjournment, the top court issued directions for the formation of two separate bodies to devise a uniform policy to control the country's population.
A committee led by former principal secretary to the prime minister Fawad Hasan Fawad was tasked with preparing a report within 15 days and submitting it in the court.
Meanwhile, the attorney general was directed to form a task force that will submit its recommendations in the shape of a report within three weeks.
According to last year's census provisional results, Pakistan has a population of 207.8 million — a 57 per cent increase since the last census in 1998.
The latest population census has shown that Pakistan has moved up the ladder becoming the fifth most populous nation only behind India, China, the United States and Indonesia.
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Comments (65) Closed
Jul 03, 2018 01:50pm
It’s great such issues are starting to be discussed. Families should be encouraged to have less children which will allow them to focus on their children more and give them a better life in the long run.
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Jul 03, 2018 01:52pm
The wonderful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Islamic Republic of Pakistan has posed a great, interesting and intriguing question to the nation. Let the "movers and shakers" in Islamabad answer his candid, frank, straight-forward and blunt question by staring into an average house and households in the country?
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Jul 03, 2018 01:52pm
The Honourable CJP may take note of the well known fact that any attempt to control the population is likely to fail miserably without increasing literacy to at least 70% . Increasing education will also help solve issues of health and poverty as well.
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Jul 03, 2018 01:52pm
Educate, train and give skills to make them an asset for the world. Otherwise, they are a bomb.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:01pm
So, make it a crime for anyone to have more than 3 kids per family.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:06pm
At last, someone talking about this most important topic, no one dares.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:13pm
I hope this is published in Urdu, Sindhi, Balochi,Pujaba, KPK, Giligiti and Balit
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Jul 03, 2018 02:17pm
CJ raises an excellent point. Just look at the average income of a family and then let us look at how much it would cost to educate the 7 children CJ is talking about. There is absolutely no way anyone in Pakistan can afford education of 7 children. What we need to decide is whether we want 7 illiterate children in each family or have one or two who can be educated. The answer is quite simple and it has nothing to do with religion. Unless we understand these basics, Pakistan will continue to propel itself backwards. CJ is absolutely right. I love this CJ.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:26pm
Teach family planning to men in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa please.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:39pm
This is a very serious subject that needs addressing by our rulers. I can't wait for the religious parties comments on this subject!
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Jul 03, 2018 02:42pm
Excellent debate and need to look into welfare centre roles. They are looting money.. Every department is corrupt....
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Jul 03, 2018 02:44pm
This trend will continue unless son preference is discouraged and more job opportunities are created for females in Pakistan. Furthermore, government needs effective implemention of laws and formulation of sustainable plans to end child labour.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:50pm
Prime issue for Pakistan...all developments will be eaten up by growing population if this matter is not tackled seriously
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Jul 03, 2018 02:50pm
This is the major issue. Every problem directly or indirectly connected with increasing population. I m glad to hear that.
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Jul 03, 2018 02:53pm
Take lesson from China
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Jul 03, 2018 02:57pm
This demographic disaster of over-population has not happened overnight. Please go back couple of decades and there used to be ads on TV about small family sizes. There are experts in demographic studies who knew exactly where this country is heading to. Unless, we had predicted the strategy to utilise the human resource and convert this disaster into demographic dividend, the country was destined to be where it is now. Nothing surprising. Its just simply poor leadership and governance. There are examples of countries which are reaping the benefits of youth. Is it too late to make the changes? well, we don't have many choices. The countries socio-economic (health and education) indicators are embarrassingly poor as compared to our neighbouring countries, both big and small. Hope this election can bring some sanity and purpose into leadership and good governance.
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Jul 03, 2018 03:00pm
Pakistani will not have to worry about the rate of population if every institution can eradicate the looming backlog due to continuous failure in carrying out the prime responsibility.
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Jul 03, 2018 03:04pm
@Sabir Pakistani
Yet Punjabi population is about 5 times that of KPK. Wake up to facts and stop watching geo
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Jul 03, 2018 03:05pm
is this more worrisome than dispensing justice to 70 years legal cases still hanging in your court?
A trained and educated manpower is the best thing any country can wish for .
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Jul 03, 2018 03:05pm
I remember in my childhood I used to hear advertisements in electronic as well as print media about family planning, slogans like
"do bachhay hi achhay - Having 2 kids is good" or
"Kum bachhay khushaal gharana - Less kids, happy family"
I have not seen any effort since those days in the last 2-3 decades by the Govt. Either they were too busy in corruption or they were afraid from moulvis who make it a matter of religion.
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Jul 03, 2018 03:14pm
@k k tiwari Why not your country take lesson from China ?
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Jul 03, 2018 03:15pm
You can have all the birth control you want but at the end of the day what will make a difference is education combined with job opportunities. People will aspire to better themselves if they know that there are opportunities to do so. And part of these aspirations will include limiting the number of children they have.
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Jul 03, 2018 03:22pm
With the current birth rate, Pakistan will soon become the 3rd most populated Country in the world after China and India.
Just wait and watch......
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Jul 03, 2018 03:27pm
Implement the one child policy. If couples desire more children, ask them to adopt orphans. There are so many fatherless and motherless children who could be helped instead of producing more.
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Jul 03, 2018 03:34pm
@k k tiwari - "Take lesson from China"
So should India!
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Jul 03, 2018 03:36pm
Corruption, lack of dams and water storage along with excessive population, having limited resources and energy crisis are the main issues that both PMLN and PPP have ignored during the last 35+ years. And, as a result, nation is both politically and financially in trouble, we have to change our corrupt mindset for the sake of present and future generation - think carefully and vote wisely in the forthcoming election!
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Jul 03, 2018 03:50pm
Its a personal right. Everyone has the right to choose how many kids they can have. The state can sure educate. Also, its strange that a poor man can raise 10 kids and in a more civilized way, (in general) and the rich are having difficulty raise one or two kids. Its not about money...
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Jul 03, 2018 03:51pm
A very encouraging sign to become number one in the world.
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Jul 03, 2018 03:59pm
its an important issue, and must be addressed. The contribution of Ulmas is very much needed to educate the people.
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Jul 03, 2018 04:09pm
CJP has highlighted an important issue, people in Pakistan should seriously think of this growing population as in today times, you need to consider having an healthy economic means to afford family members.
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Jul 03, 2018 04:15pm
@Sid 5 is less than 9. Also 1 is less than 5. Question is how many?
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Jul 03, 2018 04:18pm
@ABE 3 ? Iron brother kept it to 1 for decades.
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Jul 03, 2018 04:21pm
At least CJP has taken notice of the grave situation of population explosion. Country is paying very high price because of unplanned population increase.
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Jul 03, 2018 05:04pm
This is very important issue which need to address openly ,there must be campaign to educate people about the family planning. The Current ruler elite nothing to do with the country important issue , they are busy in hiding their corruption money and then defending it. CJP thank you for addressing this issue.
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Jul 03, 2018 05:12pm
Wow this man CJP is a remarkable man discussing core issues. Next in line should be drainage system in pakistan
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Jul 03, 2018 05:42pm
Most of advanced countries are decreasing their young population we have the opportunity to train our young's according to their countries requirements through technical and skilled education to fulfill their requirements and making our county rich with foreign money through their earning it can be the best export organic products over population is not a issue except to make the the organic products usefull Over population can be made useful if we think non conventional wisdom way
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Jul 03, 2018 06:05pm
@Danish that is very true...
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Jul 03, 2018 06:08pm
On the flip side, population increase brings down the per capita debt burden on the population.
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Jul 03, 2018 06:27pm
A very healthy and long overdue discussion. Must raise more quality children and smaller families with the focus on education, health and grooming. Successful nations have been doing this for a century now while poverty stricken nations have let this go unchecked.
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Jul 03, 2018 06:48pm
It should be quality over quantity.
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Jul 03, 2018 07:08pm
Exploding population is a valid concern, but the CJ should limit himself to his constitutional role which does not allow for policy making, budgeting and gathering funds for reconstruction.
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Jul 03, 2018 07:27pm
@Bashir Ahmad But in the meantime, there should be a campaign to limit number of children in a family otherwise poor nation will become poorer and children malnourished, uneducated and ignorant. No parent should wish that and women should stop being baby producing machines. They are not.
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Jul 03, 2018 07:37pm
It is top issue that is a hindrance towards progress. We must control our population growth, follow example of China who rose from nowhere to the top economic power in a span of 30 years with disciplined approach.
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Jul 03, 2018 07:40pm
@Himmat a good starting point would be anything less then the current average. Such issues will take time to resolve but it’s important the numbers are heading in the right direction.
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Jul 03, 2018 09:59pm
Brazil with a population of 211 million in 2018, is more populous than Pakistan.
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Jul 03, 2018 10:21pm
@Harmony-1© I truly think Indian family when talking about problems of Pakistan on this forum and forums allover they forget that India has the same problems which are amplified to a mega scale, when compared to Pakistan. I wonder why this temporary lapse of memory in initiated when talking about Pakistan. I do think Pakistanis more openly talk about their negatives, which is a good beginning. Excelling move my Chief this is just simply great news we need to put our time and hearts into as too much population is a burden on family and nation.
In the end both India and Pakistan a have essentially the same problems. It will help if we two brothers stop putting each other down, after all we know each other very well.
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Jul 04, 2018 12:08am
Do not put any restrictions on population growth. Just pass a law that government benefits like health, education, ration at low rates etc will be paid to only four in a family. Applicable to all irrespective of religion or rich/poor.
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Jul 04, 2018 12:28am
Our past 2 publicly elected governments have failed miserable to address, even discuss, a topic that is of serious concern in Pakistan. Pakistan as an under developed country cannot sustain such a huge population explosion. There is a need for a massive campaign and education to reign in this run away growth that will continue to push the country back. I applaud the CJP to bring this issue to the open.
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Jul 04, 2018 12:39am
@Umair, if poor people could send their kids to higher education then they couldn't afford either. It was personal choice when population was way under control. We are long past that.
Now reality is, we are poor mismanaged country with limited resources and our population is growing out of control. Our urban infrastructure is bad and choking up. We don't have resources to give good drinkable water to even half of our population. And then to add to this mess, a growing huge population. Even for developed countries such population size (population to resources ratio) would be too much to handle.
There is not one fix for all this mess but imposing strictness on population growth definitely is a step in right direction. I think we are even way passed "bache dao hee ache" Ads, there should be some concrete measures such as Tax incentives etc. to stop this huge population growth otherwise all our cities won't have anything but slums.
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Jul 04, 2018 12:56am
When leaders at the top are corrupt, they don't care about such issues. Also they use these departments to fill in cronies as rewards. No one does any work. It is good CJP has taken a very important issue.The population rate must fall to 0.5% and there should be no more than 2 kids per family. Awareness campaign should be run along with the polio campaign. Same people can make families aware.
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Jul 04, 2018 02:25am
@Bashir Ahmad Agree that education is necessary to encourage couples to have small families, but this is a long term project.Immediate measures need to be taken to stop the population in Pakistan to explode.
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Jul 04, 2018 02:40am
Thanks again to the Chief Justice for bringing up one of the most critical issues faced by the country. It is true that uncontrolled and unmanaged population growth has already put the present and future of the nation in jeopardy. It is an urgent matter which needs to be addressed. Closing eyes for whatever reason is not the solution
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Jul 04, 2018 03:24am
No country can afford seven children per family. Get real...
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Jul 04, 2018 03:25am
@ABL Beautiful analysis.
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Jul 04, 2018 03:26am
@Nadeem A The later prediction is true.
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Jul 04, 2018 04:00am
And then we complain about the West when the Western countries are flooded with migrants and refugees. We can’t export our problems. We need to get our act together otherwise we will face another century of medieval backwardness.
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Jul 04, 2018 04:13am
@Architect m a abbasi wishful thinking.
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Jul 04, 2018 06:17am
Learn a good thing or two from Nepal, a much poorer country compared to Pakistan, regarding its very successful family planning programmes. Everyone has responsibility towards the mother Earth.
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Jul 04, 2018 06:24am
A report on how to control population within three weeks will be another joke. Serious report would need one year for getting input from experts and interest groups to make an implementable plan of action.
In the meantime Chief Justice should reform the lower judiciary if he really wishes to serve the poor masses
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Jul 04, 2018 06:36am
Govt can't tell citizens how many kids they should have but govt can educate and make it mandotary for parents to provide secondary education to all kids. Tax them higher if they have more than 3 kids or more than 5 kids for consuming more resources. There are other ways beside China's way.
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Jul 04, 2018 07:12am
what they do with 3 child's for a couple , 1 child is not enough?
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Jul 04, 2018 04:56pm
@Texan "Tax them higher if they have more than 3 kids or more than 5 kids for consuming more resources. " Even if the family with one child consumes more than that with 5?
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Jul 04, 2018 05:01pm
@Pasha "Our past 2 publicly elected governments have failed miserable to address, even discuss, a topic that is of serious concern in Pakistan." Actually they have successfully controlled the growth of population and even reduced it. in Karachi. Give them some more years there will be no one in Karachi. 10% reduction in population was never witnessed before.
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Jul 04, 2018 05:04pm
@Sat "ust pass a law that government benefits like health, education, ration at low rates etc will be paid to only four in a family." That will be the biggest joke. They are not providing it even to one child family.
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Jul 04, 2018 06:09pm
If you reduce the population, people will be less likely to work for less.If people ask more to work, the cost of labor will increase. If the cost of labor increases, the rate of profit will decrease. With less money in their pocket and more to pay for their work, the elite will feel impoverished. They are in power, so why should they think about stopping it's growth?
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