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.

In the second half of December, it became clear that state institutions are looking at decreasing population growth as a way to loosen the grip of the crisis.

Amena Nossair, a professor of religion and philosophy at al-Azhar University and a member of the parliamentary Research and Education Committee, said in a Dec. 19 press statement that Friday sermons, under the direction of the Ministry of Awqaf, should begin advising citizens on the importance of curbing population growth. She added that the ministry has to correct citizens’ religious misconceptions about procreation. Nossair said that Islam called upon Muslims to take pride in offspring that can improve the world and achieve scientific progress, as opposed to families too large to enjoy good access to educational, health or work prospects.