Pakistan turns to scholars in birth control bid
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Pakistan’s prime minister is seeking the help of Islamic scholars to gain public support for the use of birth control in the deeply conservative country—a policy opposed by hardline Muslims.
Shaukat Aziz made the plea on Wednesday at a three-day international conference of Islamic scholars on population issues in Pakistani’s capital, Islamabad.
Some in the Islamic world believe Islam does not permit contraception but others disagree, Aziz said.
“We wish to clear our thoughts and wish to know the right path,” he said. “We understand that Ulemas (religious scholars) ... of standing and repute can play a pivotal role in guiding us on the subject.”
Contraceptive medicine and condoms are widely available in Pakistan, whose population of 155 million is expanding at a rate of about 1.9 percent a year, making it the world’s sixth most populated country.
The government also provides sterilisation facilities under health and population programmes but success has been mixed because of strong opposition by conservative clerics, especially in rural areas.
Conservative Muslims say Islam prohibits them from practicing birth control. They also say that a bigger population means a stronger Muslim community in the world.
Liberal Muslims argue that it is not the size of the population that gives strength but good education, health and a sturdy economy.
Booming populations and scarce resources pose a tough challenge for many Muslim-dominated nations including Pakistan.
Aziz said the conference should help devise ways for the government to strengthen population control programmes.
“Your presence in this conference strengthens my belief that with your support and patronage, population programme activities, especially in the rural areas of the country, will gain the required momentum,” he said.
“We must remember that nothing can be sustained without economic stability and a manageable population size.”
“We realise that future population size, structure and growth have a direct bearing on our pace of development,” he added.
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