Check on population boom: call for co-ordination between government agencies and NGOs

Shakil Ahmed Durrani, Federal Secretary for Population Welfare, has underscored the need for close co-ordination between government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to bring down the existent population growth rate in the country and ensure quality life for all the Pakistanis.
He stated this while visiting the Welfare Centre and support office of Marie Stopes Society (MSS), an NGO at Karachi.
According to the secretary the scenario has a direct bearing on the very existence of masses and people of all age groups and the situation could only be tackled through concerted efforts on part of public sector and NGOs.
Appreciating the measures adopted by MSS, he pointed out that his department, in collaboration with the Population Welfare Department, both at federal and provincial levels, is introducing different programmes in close coordination with the NGOs and CBOs.
The idea, he said, is to strengthen private-public partnership adding that each segment has to realise its responsibility and have to attain the set of objectives.
Managing Director of Marie Stopes Society, Dr Mohsina Bilgrami mentioned that 15 percent of all contraceptives being used in the county are being provided through the 37 MSS centres and mobile units scattered across the country.
She mentioned that Population Welfare Department and Health Department, particularly under its National Health Workers' Programme, had extremely supported MSS.
She further explained about how the current population rate in the country was severely compromising the available resources mainly affecting health and education sector.
Mushtaq Memon, Sindh Secretary of Population Welfare, assured all assistance to the NGO and hoped that through co-ordinated efforts on the part of government and NGOs, the department would successfully manage its efforts.
MSS External Relations Director Sajid Imam Jafri and Operations Director Siddiq Kiyani, Deputy Managing Director Altaf Hussain and other senior officials of the department also attended the programme.