A UN expert in demographic policies and population on Wednesday called for a regional framework for integrating demographic transition with local development plans in the Arab world, the Jordan Times reported.

Abdul Aziz Farah, a representative from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), made the call here at an ongoing meeting focusing on demographic changes and social development.

"It is a rather complicated and important issue, which faces the Arab world, to link demographic transition to development programs," said Farah.

"Experts and lawmakers are now concerned with the issue, particularly the development policies which were shaped in isolation from demographic changes and challenges," the UN representative added.

During the meeting, experts indicated that a high fertility rate is not a qualitative problem but rather a quantitative one which affects economy, poverty levels, development of human resources, migration and youth issues among others.

The population of the Middle East countries has increased, on average, by 250 percent in about three decades, which imposes big challenges on the development of the region.

The meeting is organized by the ESCWA in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Higher Population Council (HPC).

Source: Xinhua