Balanced Families Key to Healthy Society, Says Balochistan Population Secretary

Quetta:Secretary Population Welfare Balochistan, Abdullah Khan, has emphasized that family planning is essential for building a healthy and balanced society. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Population Welfare Department at the RHC Center, Fatima Jinnah Hospital, he stated that a healthy child is more likely to excel in education and other sectors, ultimately contributing positively to the country’s development.

Highlighting the efforts of the department, he acknowledged the role of community-based family welfare workers in raising awareness by reaching households across Balochistan. “These workers are effectively spreading the message of family planning to every village and city, and their work has started to yield positive results,” he said.

The seminar, focused on the economic and social impacts of balanced families, was attended by health and population officials, doctors, and community workers, including Dr. Shireen, Jumma Khan Kakar, Abdul Sattar Shahwani, Dr. Sarmad Saeed, and others.

Abdullah Khan noted that unchecked population growth negatively affects both families and society, leading to poor child development, reduced mental capabilities, and limited contributions in education and other sectors. He praised the awareness campaigns in districts such as Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Ziarat, Musakhail, Mastung, Nushki, and Jaffarabad, where significant progress has been made in health and family planning.

He stressed that without family planning, problems such as poverty, inflation, poor healthcare, and lack of education intensify. To tackle these, the department has introduced several policies and initiatives, including the country’s first-ever province-wide deployment of community-based family welfare workers in Balochistan.

In a major development, over 30 lady doctors are set to be appointed through the Public Service Commission soon, while interviews for non-technical cadre officers will follow. “Through mobilization, awareness, and availability of services at hospitals and markets, we aim to ensure access to reproductive health and family planning for all,” he said.

Abdullah Khan also called on departments like education, health, and social welfare to join hands in this effort and highlighted the crucial role religious scholars can play in promoting awareness. He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to work alongside the government and district administrations to create a balanced, informed, and prosperous society.