Dr Sayed in his statistics shows that 50 per cent of our fertile couples are not using contraceptives. He has also pointed out that this rate has been stagnant throughout the last decade.

Despite the remarkable progress made after the sixties, our country has reached such a stalemate that even promises of big funding has failed to generate the desired pace in controlling population .

There is an inverse relation between the population growth rate and literacy rate. Before the last decade, the population growth rate declined so dramatically and successfully because it was easy to convince the literate group of the merits of having a small family. So the population control programmes were highly successful. But the 'out of bounds population' (the second 50%) are too illiterate to perceive the core point of family planning.

Of course, it is a very hard task to bring these people into the habit of using contraceptives. Zakir has rightly remarked, "Raising the contraceptive prevalence rate to 65% and above will be harder". If these people remain where they are , the country will not be able to break the vicious cycle of population growth.

All of our gains and development efforts are being swallowed up by over population. Time has come to contain this runaway population growth.

With a view to reaching the goal, the social and political institutions (parties) have the responsibility of organising a movement. In spite of all discords, these institutions may chant slogans relating to the need for checking the population growth. In all their programmes and meetings and rallies they, with their political banners, can hold out banners on population control as well. This informal activity would cost a little and the political parties can afford it.

This informal strategy should be taken into consideration in the greater interest of the country. The people concerned should not forget that time is running out.