Lahore: Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to implement the National Population Council Declaration, according to Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, the Additional Chief Secretary of Punjab. Sahoo emphasized the importance of addressing population management as a priority to transform the burgeoning population into a valuable national resource by providing quality education, technical training, and employment opportunities.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, Sahoo highlighted the significance of population management during a meeting with a delegation from the National Population Council. He pointed out that addressing population growth is crucial for resolving other socio-economic challenges. The meeting, which included a detailed presentation by Dr. Shabana Haider from the Population Planning Commission of Pakistan, focused on population-related issues and emerging demographic trends.

Sahoo stressed the need for coordinated efforts between federal and provincial institutions and called for the immediate nomination of focal persons from the Health and Education Departments to ensure effective collaboration with the National Population Council. Key figures such as Secretary Health Dr. Nadia Saqib and Deputy Secretary Staff Hira Yousaf were also in attendance to discuss the implementation of the declaration and its implications for national development.