Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif declared population control a national duty.
- Pakistan aims to halve its current population growth rate from 2.55% to 1.25% by 2035.
- The government plans to draft the National Stabilization Plan 2026–2035 focusing on healthcare, education, and social protection.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the urgent need for population control as a critical component of Pakistan’s national progress. Speaking at a high-level review meeting in Islamabad, he termed rapidly increasing population as the country's biggest challenge, stressing that population planning must be aligned with economic stability and human resource development.
The Prime Minister directed officials to immediately convene a meeting of the National Population Council, which will bring together chief ministers from all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and key stakeholders. The upcoming session aims to finalize a comprehensive national strategy for sustainable growth.
During the meeting, officials briefed PM Shehbaz on population trends and preparations for the council’s session. The government is currently drafting the National Stabilization Plan 2026–2035, which seeks to reduce Pakistan's current population growth rate from 2.55% to 1.25% by 2035.
The new framework will focus on key sectors including healthcare, education, youth development, vocational training, social protection, and increasing women’s participation in the labour force. The Prime Minister also highlighted that work has begun to link several federal social protection initiatives directly to population welfare compliance.
Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar attended the meeting. They discussed the importance of effective public awareness campaigns to ensure successful implementation of the population control measures.
The Prime Minister’s directive underscores the government's commitment to addressing one of Pakistan’s most pressing issues. By aligning population planning with broader national goals, the administration hopes to foster sustainable economic growth and improve overall quality of life for its citizens.
