The Provincial Minister for Law, Excise & Taxation, Finance Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has said that growth rate of Punjab will be increased to eight percent during next four years and in result of it, more than 70 lakh people will be able to live above the poverty line whereas job opportunities will also be available to 40 lakh people. He said that 36 percent of development budget has been allocated for south Punjab so that maximum development projects will be completed in the less developed districts. He said that the budget allocated for education Rs.274 billion which is 26.25 percent of total expenditures whereas the budget allocated for health Rs.121.80 billon which is 11.66 percent of total expenditures of the government.
While talking to various delegations, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that in order to provide civic amenities to every citizen of the country we have to control the rapidly growing population, therefore, a comprehensive awareness campaign will be launched in the province. He said that increasing population affects our socio-economic conditions also as 40 million people are living low poverty line, 58 million people have no access to safe & clean drinking water, 59 million people are living in one room house unit, whereas, only 20 percent population have the facility of trained birth attendant. He maintained that increasing population is deeply decreasing our food stocks and now about 70.7 million people are facing lack of food and starvation in the world, whereas, every 6th person in developing country is the victim of lack of food.
Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that likewise 53 mini hospitals, at Tehsil level are also going to be established to provide vasectomy services. He said that population welfare programmes aim at improving mother and neonatal’s health as well as reducing population growth rate from 1.92% to 1.59 %. Likewise, non-programme outlets including active participation of NGOs, ulema, media-men and other community leaders has been ensured to realize the benefits of small family to the people at large. He said that education and health is priority of the present government so that to provide quality educational and health facilities to every citizen, however, it could be achieved only when our population remain within resources. However, he asked the public representatives and ulema to come forward and to create awareness among general public against the menace of fatal diseases and brief the people regarding proactive measures of critical diseases as well as proactive vaccination of childhood diseases in their Khutbaas and in their individuals communication, he added.
