Amr Hassan, the rapporteur of the National Population Council (NPC), has warned about the increase in the rate of population growth in Egypt which has become a threat to the country’s national security.
The NPC rapporteur said that the council has started cooperating with the UNFPA to re-evaluate the national strategy of population with its five aspects. The evaluation process is expected to take place by the end of February.
This came during the speech he gave on behalf of Halah Zayed, the minister of health and population, at a seminar held by the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies under the title “How to Deal With the Population Issue Properly”.
Hassan praised the support given by the minister of health toward the efforts rendered to solve the issue of population in order to improve the quality of life for Egyptians through reducing population growth rates and improving knowledge, skills and behavioural characteristics of citizens, in addition to re-drawing and redistributing the population by achieving the current goals of the national projects currently implemented by the state.
He explained that the results to be reached in the evaluation process will determine the way to solve the issue and whether or not the right steps are taken in the proper direction.
Furthermore, Hassan added that even though Egypt has always been aware of the issue and its risks on development and citizens, it has started dealing with that issue only in the 60s, and the council was established in the 80s. “Despite the money we spend and the strategies we adopted, we still have to deal with that issue and its economic and social impacts,” he added.
He pointed out that many countries faced similar problems and managed to overcome them within only a few years, while in Egypt, the problem is still growing, which prompts an important question: Do the political policies followed need to be reconsidered or are they enough?
Moreover, he said that the population growth is not a problem by itself, however, its various aspects represent issues that require the work of all ministries and concerned bodies in the state.
Hassan concluded his speech by stressing the importance of working together, noting that competition between countries is not by population numbers, but through innovation, increased production and scientific progress.
