The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar said on Monday that public awareness as well as relevant legislation is required in order to control the "population bomb".
The Chief Justice remarked when the hearing resumed of the suo motu case related to population growth in Pakistan.
During today's hearing, the Attorney General (AG) informed the court that population control was assigned to the provinces after the 18th Amendment.
The AG further said that one province has reservations over forming of a 'national policy' on the matter. The Chief Justice then remarked that the court can resolve the differences between the provinces.
Justice Saqib Nisar then wondered how people are surviving in interior Sindh, adding whether the provincial government ever realized this.
Furthermore, the Chief Justice stated that the growing population is resulting in a shortage of resources and housing.
In addition, he talked about the role of women in population control, saying, women are used as a tool. He added that they are not provided with adequate birth control measures.
Justice Nisar remarked that without eradicating population growth, any development plans cannot succeed, adding that provinces need to follow a policy made at the federal level.
During the hearing, Justice Umar Ata Bandiyal observed that merely distributing pamphlets about the issue is not enough as people have to be made to understand the core of the matter and given an incentive.
Noting that there are people who believe curbing population growth is against Islam, Justice Bandiyal remarked that the religion gives a very special place to family.
We need to give women a high status and safeguard their role, he added.
The Chief Justice remarked that if a policy is made today then its results will be witnessed five years from now, adding that he dreads to see the day when there won’t be anything left to eat due to over-population.
During the hearing, Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former social welfare minister Shahnaz Wazir Ali informed the court that one of the reasons for population growth is the low marriage age in the country.
Ali suggested that the legal age for girls to marry should be 18 years, adding that the Sindh government has made a policy on population control.