Govt unveils population control strategy

May 14, 2026 (MLN): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday declared the establishment of a National Population Council aimed at formulating a coordinated national policy to address the country’s rising population growth rate.

Chairing a high-level meeting on population management, the prime minister decided to personally head the council, which will include the chief ministers of all four provinces, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif stressed that maintaining a balance between population growth and available resources was essential for sustainable economic and social development.

He warned that the rapidly increasing population was placing significant pressure on the country’s resources and public services.

The prime minister said the government was pursuing comprehensive measures to curb population growth through public awareness campaigns, improved healthcare and education services, and balanced development initiatives.

He directed authorities to adopt a “whole-of-the-government approach” for effective population management and called for the active involvement of religious scholars and community leaders in awareness campaigns related to family planning.

Officials briefing the meeting said the country’s population growth rate had climbed to 2.55%, underscoring the need for urgent and coordinated action.

They noted that nationwide family planning awareness campaigns were already underway and emphasized that expanding family planning services to all healthcare centers could significantly support population control efforts.

The meeting was further informed that social protection initiatives would be linked with family planning programs, while women’s economic empowerment was identified as a key factor in managing population growth.

Among those attending the meeting were federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and senior government officials.

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