Population Research Center

Population Research Center (PRC) was established in 2019 to conduct, promote, and strengthen inter-disciplinary population studies research in Pakistan. The PRC is an independent Center that was collaboratively created by the Departments of Economics, Geography, Statistics and Sociology and is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

In unison with the motto of FCCU “by love serve one another” the mission of PRC is to serve the people in the true spirit of inclusion and democracy as the premier teaching and research institute of Population Studies in Pakistan. The main purpose of the institute includes providing advanced training to students in Population Studies, generating and disseminating research on population growth and its impact, spreading awareness on population related issues and evaluating existing policies and initiatives to counter the population problem in Pakistan and collaborating with national and international institutions for trainings and research.

PRC has following objectives

  1. 1. To generate interdisciplinary research on core population related domains in Pakistan, like food safety and security, water, health, employment, education, human rights, environment, standard of living, minorities, population redistribution, family dynamics, aging, mortality, labor and markets, and family dynamics.
  2. 2. To train undergraduate and graduate students in demography and population studies.
  3. 3. To develop institutional linkages with leading population research centers in the world, specifically in the South Asia region, and engage in collaborative research, and training.
  4. 4. To provide a platform for prominent scholars and experts to participate in an ongoing solution-focused discourse on population growth and population related challenges in Pakistan.
  5. 5. To spread awareness about the burgeoning population and its implications for Pakistan.
  6. 6. To evaluate the impact of existing policies and programs to meet the challenges posed by population growth in Pakistan and share recommendations to concerned bodies.

The Population Research Center (PRC) was established on 2nd October 2019 with the Rector, Dr James A. Tebbe, signing MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Population Council Pakistan, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Dr Zeba Sathar, Country Director Population Council Pakistan, and Dr G.M.Arif, Consultant Population Council, two internationally renowned specialists on population studies and demography, were particularly involved and helpful.

Population growth and related demographic challenges pose major problems for all, but especially for the developing societies such as Pakistan. These challenges affect standards of living, capabilities, and sustained growth and development of the country. But they may not necessarily limit or obscure opportunities for progress. The nature, character, and direction of the national population can make a difference, positive difference.
It is with this hope and resolve that the PRC was conceived as a shared platform for interdisciplinary teaching and research in population studies and demography and the allied subjects. The PRC will concentrate on research and training to address salient issues and concerns in the population and its demographic components. Pakistan is facing a number of issues such as, poverty, unemployment, urban sprawl, housing, water scarcity, environmental degradation, climate change etc, to name a few. Hopefully, the PRC will distinguish itself with its willingness, capacity, and competencies to analyse these issues and, more importantly, will generate innovative and viable evidence-based policy research to suggest a way out of the difficulties for the benefit of the country and its population.
Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues in the Advisory Board, Dr Gloria Calib, Dr Sufian Aslam, Dr Mohammad Vaqas Ali, Mr Kashif Shafique, Dr Sharoon Hanook, and Dr Muhammad Ali Bhatti for steering the PRC project from conception to completion. Dr Vaqas, as Director PRC, Mr Jawad Tariq, as its Coordinator, and the whole staff of the center made strenuous efforts to make PRC what it is today, a palpable, promising center for population studies and demography. I am sure it has ‘ miles to go … ‘, but I do pray and hope that, in due course of time, it will emerge as a Center of Excellence not only in the country but in the whole region confronted, as it is, with the challenges of population, its structure, and change like never before.
 Dr. Sikandar Hayat
Chair, Advisory Board
Distinguished Professor of History and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences

Research Repository

  1. Publications
  2. Research Report
  3. Policy Papers
  4. Conference Papers
  5. Theses
  6. Senior Projects

Research areas/Themes include but are not limited to:

    • – Fertility, maternal and child health
    • – Family planning
    • – Child labor & child marriage
    • – Youth
    • – Old age  and genealogy
    • – Poverty
    • – Public health policy and disease control
    • – Resource Scarcity
    • – Population explosion and other relevant issues
    • – Population Studies and Gender vulnerable population-related issues
    • – Urbanization & migration
    • – Demographic issues and socio-economic implications

The Centers support affiliates, students, and the campus community with services and expertise to plan, conduct, and disseminate research in the population sciences, as well as opportunities to network through events.

Resources and Facilities include:

  • 1. Grant writing support, from a search for funding sources, to grant preparation, review and editing, budget development, to submission;
  • 2. Links to the larger population science community on campus and beyond through events and the Bi-monthly News newsletter;
  • 3. Training & assisting on pilot projects and other funded research;
  • 4. Specialized consulting on data sets and survey design.
  • 5. Computer Lab access to the digital repository
  • 6. Library holding academic journals,Population Studies related books, reports and other resources.
  • 7. Meeting/Conference Room
  • 8. Research Rooms providing work space for PRC research teams
  • 9. Scholar Residency providing room and office space for a visiting scholar

1. Certification in Population Studies

Undergraduate students opting for a major or minor in Economics, Sociology, Geography and Statistics, will be offered the option of earning a ‘Specialization in Population Studies Certificate’ by taking Population Studies courses as electives. This certificate will be issued by the Population Research Center at FCCU, and will not alter in any way the major and minor requirements of the baccalaureate program, as laid down per HEC rules.

2. Minor in Population Studies (undergraduate level)

The PRC is also planning to offer a minor in Population Studies (18 – 24 credit hours) at the undergraduate level.

Dr. M. Vaqas Ali
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
Director, Population Research Center, FCCU
vaqasali@fccollege.edu.pk

Mr. Jawad Tariq
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
Coordinator, Population Research Center, FCCU
jawadtariq@fccollege.edu.pk

Ms. Zain Fatima Shamsi
Administrative Assistant, Population Research Center, FCCU
fatimashamsi@fccollege.edu.pk, EXT 864

Ms. Khizra Nasir
Research Assistant, Population Research Center, FCCU
khizranasir@fccollege.edu.pk, EXT 864

Dr. Sikandar Hayat
Distinguished Professor of History and Public Policy & Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, FCCU

Dr. Gloria Calib
Associate Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, FCCU

Dr. Sufiyan Aslam
Associate Vice Rector for Faculty Affairs, FCCU

Dr. Muhammad Ali Bhatti
Chairperson & Associate Professor, Department of Economics, FCCU

Dr. Sharoon Hanook
Chairperson  & Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics, FCCU

Mr. Kashif Shafique
Chairperson  & Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, FCCU

Dr. Sara Rizvi Jafri
Chairperson  & Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, FCCU

Dr. Hafiz Rizwan Ahmed
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, FCCU

Dr. Khadija Shakrullah
Associate Professor, Department of Geography

Mr. Athar Azeem
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography

Ms. Samia Ayub
Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics, FCCU

Fatima Alam

Ms. Fatima Alam is an undergraduate student in FCCU majoring in political science with sociology minor. She has a keen interest in analyzing statistical data on population studies which is currently impacting the existing policies and programs. Her aim is to study the change in pattern and trends in depth in order to understand the challenges being imposed by the growing population.

Shanzeh Ahmad

Ms. Shanzeh Ahmad is currently an undergraduate student in FCCU majoring in Sociology alongside, part of the PRC certification program in Demography and Population Studies.

Lutfullah Khan

Mr. Lutfullah Khan is currently in junior year in undergrad. He deem himself a passionate political science major with a minor in sociology. The area of research that interests him the most and he look forward to contributing extensively in are, Political Sociology; Ethnographic & Cultural studies; the changing politico-strategico/economic dynamics in certain Areas or Regions. According to him, PRC has provided a unique platform to learn the advanced techniques that could help a lot in strengthening your skills, those who aspire to pursue a career in area studies.”