Our Correspondent
Islamabad: The media has been urged to play a key role in urging both the federal and provincial governments to ensure availability of inclusive, disaggregated data. These data are essential for informed policy making and effective implementation, ultimately achieving sustainable population growth and promoting a resilient and just future for all citizens. By promoting the regular collection and dissemination of this data, the media can make a significant contribution to a nation’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals and improve the overall well-being of its people.
This call to action was a key topic of discussion during a media coalition meeting organized by the Population Council with UNFPA support in Islamabad. Made up of journalists from mainstream media outlets across Pakistan, the Media Coalition on Population regularly highlights the cross-sectoral impact of rapid population growth to raise awareness and hold governments accountable for people’s well-being.
Dr. Ali Mir, Senior Director Programs, Population Council, in his welcome remarks highlighted the key role of the media in promoting regular availability of data disaggregated by age, gender, disability, geography and economic status. He stated: “With targeted interventions based on robust data, we can ensure that everyone counts and is counted because each individual plays a vital role in national development.” He stressed the importance of using data for effective policy making and emphasized the need for a differentiated approach to address different population needs.
Ikram ul Ahad, Deputy Manager, Communications, Population Council, presented the latest data from the 2023 Census and emphasized the need for Pakistan to follow the example of neighboring Muslim countries that have successfully reduced their birth rates. He also emphasized the importance of enrolling out-of-school children, especially girls, increasing female labor force participation and empowering women, which will continue to be a problem with the current high birth rate.
Ummi Kalsoom, Communications Officer, Population Council, shared data on Pakistan’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Population growth and the SDGs are intrinsically linked, with 12 of the 17 SDGs directly related to population growth. Declining fertility and sustainable population growth could significantly help Pakistan achieve all the SDGs,” she explained. Kalsoom emphasized the need for consistent media coverage to highlight data gaps and urged members of the Media Coalition to ensure regular availability of data.
Dr. In his closing remarks, UNFPA Program Specialist Jameel Ahmed called for a comprehensive strategy prioritizing family planning to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “People-centred development cannot be realized without the timely provision of disaggregated public data, which is essential for the development of nuanced and well-informed policies,” he added. Dr. Jameel also emphasized the key role of the media in promoting voluntary family planning.
Meeting participants committed to using the media as a powerful tool to promote better data availability, which is essential for governments to develop and implement comprehensive family planning policies. These principles and their effective implementation are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other national development goals.
