Population Challenges in a Changing World

Annual Population Research Conference 2021:

The PAP is pleased to announce its 22nd Annual Population Research Conference that will be held in collaboration with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad from 7th - 9th December 2021 at 09:00AM. The overarching theme for the 22nd Annual Populations Research Conference is "Population Challenges in a Changing World".

The new millennium arrived with unprecedented advances in information technology, social media, and communications, with remarkable effects on the social, political, cultural, and physical environment of the world. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all segments of the population and is particularly detrimental to vulnerable population groups, including the poor, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases and/or disabilities. Evidence indicates that the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 is being borne disproportionately by poor people.

Pakistan is lagging behind most developing countries in terms of its social and development indicators and a major reason for that is its failure in controlling the rapid population growth. The key population challenges include persistence of high poverty and inequality, water scarcity, environmental degradation, food insecurity, maternal, infant, and child mortality, weak human development indicators, gender inequality, unemployment among youth, heightened vulnerabilities of marginalized populations, and general health needs in the wake of COVID-19.

Population Association of Pakistan (PAP) maintains a history and mandate to emphasize the crucial relationship between population and development. PAP's annual research conferences cover a range of topics related to population and human development, demographic transition, and policy directions to meet the challenges of a rapidly growing population. Unfortunately, the population and development programs in Pakistan have not progressed as steadily as in the rest of the world. PAP will continue to play its role in facilitating in the political and social change needed for population, health, and environment.

PAP thus provides a platform that offers an opportunity to bridge the various social sciences disciplines including economics, public and social policy, statistics, demography, public health, sociology, geography, and anthropology to deliberate upon solutions for pressing population and development related issues of Pakistan in this changing world.

In consideration of the limitations caused by COVID-19, the Conference will be organized using a hybrid approach of on-site and virtual participation.

Objective of the Conference:
As always, the 22nd Annual Conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to a common platform to discuss Pakistan's population problems and consider their solutions in the light of a rapidly changing national and global context.

The key population challenges include persistence of high poverty and inequality, water scarcity, environmental degradation, food insecurity, maternal, infant, and child mortality, weak human development indicators, gender inequality, unemployment among youth, heightened vulnerabilities of marginalized populations, and general health needs in the wake of COVID-19.

Panel Discussions:

• Progress on Recommendations on Population by Council of Common Interest (CCI) and Way Forward
• Social, Economic, and Demographic Implications of High Population Growth
• Opportunities and Challenges for Resilience to Climate Change

Technical Sessions:

• Population, Universal Health Coverage, and Family Planning in the Context of COVID-19
• Social, Economic, and Demographic Implications of High Population Growth
• Opportunities and Challenges for Resilience to Climate Change

Keynote Address By:
Dr. Adil Najam (S.I.)
Inaugural Dean, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

Expected Outcomes of the Conference:
The 22nd Annual Research Conference will bring together national and provincial legislators, researchers, planners, policymakers, and program managers to a common platform to discuss Pakistan's population problems and their solutions in light of a rapidly changing National and Global context. Through a series of high-level Technical and Plenary Sessions on key themes of the conference, the 22nd Conference will take stock of current policies, in the light of emerging findings from the latest research.

The upcoming National census is an important focus for discussions for the 22nd Conference, and an opportunity to bring together National and International expert

Poster