When a resource-constrained country allows its population to grow unchecked without expanding its economic and social capacity, the consequences become increasingly difficult to ignore. Water shortages, gas rationing, overstretched public services and shrinking economic opportunities are all symptoms of a deeper structural imbalance between population growth and the state’s ability to provide for its citizens. With a population of more than 240 million and one of the highest fertility rates in the region, Pakistan continues to add millions of people each year without a corresponding increase in jobs or resources. This imbalance has compounded the country’s economic and social challenges, making sustainable development an ever more elusive goal. Ironically, while much of the world is grappling with declining fertility rates, on this year’s World Population Day that falls today, Pakistan faces the opposite dilemma. According to a 2022 report, the country’s fertility rate stands at 3.6, exceeding the global rate by 157 per cent, underscoring the urgency of addressing population growth as a national priority.
Encouragingly, there are signs that policymakers are beginning to acknowledge the scale of the challenge. Government officials have hinted at linking the distribution of provincial funds to the provinces’ ability to manage population growth, signalling a willingness to incorporate demographic performance into public policy. Such measures, if implemented carefully and transparently, could encourage provincial governments to invest more seriously in family planning and reproductive health programmes. Civil society has also stepped forward to fill an important gap. Initiatives such as Waqfa, a joint programme of the Mir Khalilur Rahman Foundation and the Population Council of Pakistan, seek to promote informed family planning through social and behaviour change communication rather than coercion. Equally important is the removal of taxes on contraceptives, which will hopefully make family planning services more affordable and accessible, particularly for low-income households. These initiatives recognise that informed choices, not compulsion, are the foundation of responsible population management. The debate, however, extends well beyond family planning alone. Climate change, armed conflict, economic instability and rising living costs have made life increasingly difficult for millions of Pakistanis. The country possesses a large youth population with immense energy, talent and ambition, yet far too many young people lack access to quality schools, healthcare, decent employment and equal opportunities. Unless the country’s resources grow alongside its population, Pakistan risks pushing ever larger segments of its population into deeper poverty.
The most effective long-term response lies in investing in people, particularly women and girls. Keeping girls in school through stipend programmes and expanding access to secondary education should be central to any population policy. Likewise, expanding economic opportunities for women is closely associated with lower fertility rates and greater decision-making power within households. At the same time, sustained investments in maternal healthcare, immunisation, community clinics and reproductive health services would improve both public health and family wellbeing. Above all, Pakistan must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Population policy should never become a vehicle for coercion or for blaming poor families, many of whom have historically relied on their children to contribute to household incomes. The objective is not to dictate family size but to encourage informed and responsible decisions. If the government is genuinely committed to managing population growth, it must pursue an inclusive approach that expands opportunity, strengthens public services and empowers families to make informed choices.
