A grave situation

THE Egyptian nation should appreciate President Hosni Mubarak 's warning that an ever-increasing population is slowing down the immense efforts being made to enhance the economic,social and health development projects across the country.In his speech to the Parliament a few days ago,Mubarak warned that the baby boom is crippling the Government 's efforts to improve the standard of living for Egyptian citizens.Mubarak also reminded the nation that the ever-increasing population is devouring the gross national product and having a negative impact on efforts to upgrade services and basic infrastructure.Despite growing signs of economic and social improvements

low-income citizens keep complaining that they have not yet felt the fruits of economic reforms.Nor have their wages increased, despite the Government 's pledges over the years to allow these citizens to bene- fit from its economic success and the improvement in the quality of services. Egypt 's 80 million population increases by 1.6 million every year.The construction of dozens of new schools hasn 't helped reduce the overcrowding in the classrooms.The gravity of the situation should give rise to a national debate,in which families are invited to speak up,explaining their lukewarm enthusiasm for the country 's birth-control campaign.Muslim and Christian clergymen should also help citizens relinquish the contro- versial tradition that,the bigger the number of its members,the more powerful a family is.