Islamabad, May 10: The United Nations, United States
and Britain pledged USD 68 million today to help Pakistan
control its population growth by promoting family planning in
rural areas, a government statement said.
The United Nations population fund, the US Agency for
International Development, or USAID, and Britain`s department
for international development agreed to provide the money over
a period of five years, the statement said.
Pakistan`s population has risen to 140 million from 85
million in 1981 and it grew by 2.15 per cent in 2001,
according to the latest government figures.
The projects will be focused in Pakistan`s rural areas
where 70 per cent of the population lives and birth rates are
significantly higher than in the cities, the statement said.
However, some Islamic religious groups who oppose birth
control methods also hold great influence in those rural
areas.
The aid agreements were signed at ceremony in the capital
Islamabad today attended by US ambassador Nancy J. Powell,
acting British high commissioner Mark Sedwill and Pakistan`s
finance minister Shaukat Aziz, the statement said.
Bureau Report
