http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-7-2002_pg1_8
Islam allows family planning, says Musharraf
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf said at a seminar
held in connection with the International Population day on
Thursday that Islam does not oppose family planning and all
those elements who prophesise that Islam is against family
planning, should re-study Islam.
The president hoped Pakistan would overcome the country’s
population growth problem by the end of 2020. Addressing the
audience at the National Library Auditorium here, the president
said many Islamic scholars have supported the idea of family
planning in their articles and researches. He said the country’s
population was increasing rapidly, and it could cause serious
problems for the government and the people if the growth rate is
not controlled. He said poverty and other problems could
increase unless the population management programme is not
implemented effectively. The president said people should prefer
smaller families and co-operate with government’s campaign.
The president praised the family planning workers especially the
female volunteers and private family planning commissions for
their services. Dr Attiya Inayatullah, federal minister for
population and social welfare, was also praised for her
services.
Talking about the women rights, President Musharraf said the
government has given more representation to women so that they
could fight for their rights, adding, the government was also
offering micro credit and other facilities to women. —Online
