Pakistan is experiencing an annual population growth rate of 2.5 percent, which is outstripping public expenditure and threatening the country’s economic progress, experts emphasized during a recent media coalition conference. The event, organised by the Population Council alongside the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), highlighted concerns over the government’s comparatively low budget allocation for family planning relative to regional counterparts.
Speakers stressed that population stabilisation should be prioritized as a macroeconomic issue rather than merely a demographic challenge. Ammar Ali Qureshi, a senior economic adviser, noted that the country’s faltering economic outlook results from the combined pressures of rapid population expansion and underlying structural economic difficulties. He underscored the importance of stabilizing population growth to ensure sustainable development over the long term.
Demographic and economic data reveal that Pakistan’s population continues to grow at around 2.5 percent annually. Meanwhile, national policy under the Council of Common Interests targets reducing fertility rates to replacement levels. Key strategies identified by officials include enhancing female education and increasing women’s participation in the workforce as critical factors in achieving these goals.
The coalition called for urgent and protected public investment in social sectors, particularly to reinforce frontline healthcare services such as the Lady Health Worker programme. They also pointed out that birth spacing aligns with Islamic principles regarding maternal and child health, which could help mitigate social resistance to family planning efforts.
Dr Ali Mir, the Population Council’s country director, emphasized that expenditures on health and education should be viewed as long-term investments requiring ongoing political dedication rather than short-term costs. Ikram ul Ahad, communications manager at the Population Council, added that better utilisation of data is essential to hold responsible parties accountable for national commitments. He highlighted family planning as one of the most cost-effective public investments, offering immediate benefits for fiscal stability.
Journalists and media professionals present at the conference committed to enhancing evidence-based reporting on governance issues, funding shortfalls, and provincial disparities in service delivery. Their goal is to help close the gap between policy promises and actual implementation, ensuring more effective population management and economic planning.
