Federal Minister for Health, Mr. Mustafa Kamal, held a productive meeting today with the UNFPA Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luay Shabaneh, to discuss areas of mutual collaboration, particularly in the domains of family planning, maternal and child health, and the growing population trends in the country.
During the meeting, the Minister appreciated UNFPA’s longstanding partnership with the Government of Pakistan and emphasized the need to further strengthen strategic cooperation to achieve tangible outcomes in population management and reproductive health.
"Pakistan is currently the fifth most populous country in the world, and if this trend continues, it is projected to become the fourth most populous by 2030," said Minister Kamal. "This rapid population growth is a significant barrier to our sustainable development goals. It is imperative that we integrate population control and reproductive health into national policymaking."
He stressed that the focus must now shift towards effective implementation of these policies and enhancing provincial coordination to ensure cohesive action across the country.
UNFPA Country Director Dr. Luay Shabaneh lauded the Minister’s vision and commitment to prioritizing population dynamics within Pakistan's broader policy framework. He reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) to advance shared goals.
Both sides agreed on the urgent need to reduce fertility rates and stabilize population growth as a national priority, while reinforcing provincial engagement and execution frameworks for impactful results.
