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Egypt's political, religious leaders push for family planning

Egypt's Ministry of Awqaf is working to promote family planning as a solution to the overpopulated country's economic crisis.
A woman carrying her infant son sells napkins at an old cattle market named "Al Emam Market" ahead of the Muslim sacrificial festival Eid al-Adha in Cairo, Egypt, September 19, 2015. Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the annual festival of Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the annual haj pilgrimage, by slaughtering goats, sheep, cows and camels in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to Allah. REUTERS/Amr Abd
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With the Egyptian GDP per capita decreasing and poverty rates on the rise, the parliament and the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, or Awqaf, are endeavoring to raise awareness about overpopulation, proposing legislation to encourage family planning.

According to statements by officials from the Ministry of Awqaf and the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) Dec. 17, and others by members of parliament on Dec. 19, Egypt's economic reform plans launched in August will not be enough to overcome Egypt's economic crises and a program to manage overpopulation may be needed. The monthly GDP per capita is 1,282 Egyptian pounds ($70). The prices of commodities and services have skyrocketed as a result of increased foreign exchange rates.

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