Media’s Crucial Role Highlighted in Addressing Pakistan’s Growing Population Challenges
Islamabad/Quetta:Tackling the challenges posed by the rapidly growing population in Pakistan was the focus of a national media coalition meeting, organized by the Population Council with support from UNFPA. Journalists from renowned media outlets across Pakistan participated in the meeting, emphasizing the need to harness the power of media to address the critical national issue of balancing population growth with available resources.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Ali Meer, Senior Director of the Population Council, stressed the urgent need to address Pakistan’s rapidly increasing population, which is jeopardizing economic stability, resource distribution, and the country’s ability to meet its development goals. He highlighted public issues such as the shortage of healthcare, education, and employment, urging collective action to mitigate these challenges. Dr. Meer emphasized, “By utilizing the power of media for public awareness and improving policy-making, the growing population and its associated problems can be effectively addressed.”
Speaking at the event, Ikram Ullah, Deputy Manager of Communication at the Population Council, highlighted the role of media in driving positive social change worldwide. He pointed out, “Media has played a vital role in bringing about social change across the globe, and through journalism, Pakistan can overcome numerous social challenges, with the rapidly growing population becoming one of the most pressing issues.”
Ali Mazhar Chaudhry, Director of Communications at the Population Council, led a session on effectively mainstreaming the population agenda through media. The coalition members worked on a strategic plan to promote the narrative of sustainable population growth, identifying key areas for media coverage. These included the link between rapid population growth and the negative effects of climate change, empowering women, women’s education, integrating population welfare indicators in the NFC award, increasing political commitment, the crucial role of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in providing family planning services, and including family planning services in social protection networks.
Ikram Jineidi, Senior Reporter at *Dawn* newspaper, discussed the challenges faced by journalists in reporting on population-related issues and provided suggestions to overcome them. He said, “Journalists must consider editorial priorities and political sensitivities, but the media’s role in highlighting significant social issues like rapid population growth is crucial.”
The journalists attending the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to utilizing their professional skills to address the issues of population growth at sustainable levels.
