Waqfa: A pause for reflection in a nation under pressure Pakistan’s population story is no longer a distant policy concern; it is a defining national challenge. With more than 240 million citizens and one of the highest fertility rates in the region, the country is growing at around two per cent annually, adding millions of people each year without a matching expansion in jobs, schools, hospitals, housing or water re sources. Against this backdrop, the launch of the “Waqfa–Aapki Falah, Mulk ki Baqa” campaign in Karachi marks a significant attempt to re frame the national narrative on family planning and sustainable growth. Speaking at the launch ceremony held at the Hindu Gymkhana’s NAPA Auditorium, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah described unchecked population growth as one of Pakistan’s most serious social and economic challenges. He emphasised that without sustained, evi dence-based family planning policies, the country’s long-term stability would remain uncertain. Recalling the historic turning point of 1971, the chief minister noted that at the time of separation, Pakistan’s population stood at around 62 million, Bangladesh at about 70 million, and India slightly below 550 mil lion. Today, India’s population has reached 1.48 billion, Bangladesh stands at 177 million, and Pakistan has surged to approximately 259 million. “India’s population grew by 2.7 times, Bangladesh’s by about two and a half times, while Pakistan’s population grew by 4.2 times,” he observed, underscoring the stark divergence in demographic management. He added that had Pakistan followed a trajectory similar to Bangladesh since 1971, its population today would have been around 155 million, nearly 100 million fewer people. The consequences of that neglect are now visible. The country’s land area, roughly 800,000 square kilometres, is under increasing environmental and infrastructural stress. Social indicators further reveal the urgency. Pakistan’s maternal mor tality rate stands at 178 per 100,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate remains high at 66 per 1,000 live births. Around six million married women report that they do not want more children or wish to space births but are unable to do so due to cultural pressures and limited ac cess to services. The contraceptive prevalence rate is only 35 per cent, among the lowest in the region, and there was virtually no increase in modern family planning use between 2006 and 2013. The Waqfa campaign, described as Pakistan’s largest and most com prehensive social and behavioural change initiative on family planning, seeks to address precisely these gaps. Launched by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rah man Foundation (MKRF) in partnership with the Population Council Pak istan, the campaign aims to enlighten people, remove misconceptions and change mindsets. In his welcome address, MKRF Managing Director Shahrukh Hasan termed unmanaged population growth a “threat multiplier” that intensi fies economic stress, unemployment, water shortages, poverty and cli mate vulnerability. “At a growth rate of over 2.5 per cent, we are adding millions of people every year, faster than we can feed them, educate them or provide medical care,” he said. The campaign’s title, “Waqfa,” meaning pause, is deliberately simple yet symbolic—encouraging families to reflect, plan responsibly and pri oritise the health of mothers and the well-being of children. Its logo, de picting a small, happy family, underscores the campaign’s emphasis on balance and informed choice rather than coercion. Unlike previous advertising drives, organisers say Waqfa is an edito rially led initiative. “This is not messaging at people; it is a conversation with every Pakistani,” Hasan noted. The campaign was developed after consultations with provincial and federal governments, drawing lessons from earlier efforts and aligning with cultural and religious sensitivities. International partners also emphasized the economic dimension of the issue. UK Deputy High Commissioner Lance Domm highlighted that to ab sorb the young people entering the labour force, Pakistan would need to create 68 million new jobs by 2050. Meanwhile, 15.6 million people al ready live in districts highly vulnerable to climate change, pressures that will intensify as both population and environmental risks grow. He noted that a recent survey found 67 per cent of women who do not use modern contraceptives believe they carry significant health risks, highlighting the importance of addressing misinformation. Dr Zeba Sathar, Country Director of the Population Council Pakistan, described the campaign as marking “a new era of communication” on population. For decades, she said, discussions around rapid growth, child marriages, unchanging family norms and frequent pregnancies have been largely absent from public debate. The campaign’s narrative is rooted in human rights—ensuring that every child is wanted, every mother is healthy, and every family has the means to provide adequate care and op portunities. Sindh Parliamentary Secretary for Population Nida Khuhro empha sised that birth spacing is fundamentally about health, dignity and respon sibility. Following the 18th Amendment, Sindh strengthened its reproduc tive health framework, recognising it as a right rather than a privilege. Messages of support from federal and Punjab authorities reflected a rare consensus that population management must transcend provincial boundaries. As Chief Minister Shah concluded, population growth is not merely a statistic; it is a social issue with far-reaching economic consequences.
