Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, chaired a high-level meeting to review the growing population challenge and its implications for Pakistan’s health system and national resources.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Finance Minister, Adnan Pasha Siddiqui, along with the Secretary Health, Director General Population, Director General Health, and other senior officials.
During the session, participants conducted a detailed review of the impact of rapid population growth on the country’s healthcare system and overall development. The Federal Minister highlighted that Pakistan’s population is increasing by approximately 6.2 million people annually, which exceeds the total population of some countries such as New Zealand.
He emphasized that Pakistan is currently the fifth most populous country in the world, and at the current growth rate, it is projected to surpass Indonesia in population ranking within the next five years. He warned that the rapidly increasing population has become a serious national challenge, placing immense pressure on healthcare, education, infrastructure, and employment sectors.
The Minister noted that unchecked population growth is straining national infrastructure and undermining effective planning. “If we fail to control population growth, our vision for sustainable development will remain unachievable,” he stated, stressing the urgent need to reduce the fertility rate from 3.6 to 2.0.
Highlighting global best practices, the Minister pointed out that countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Iran have successfully managed population growth through effective strategies, enabling them to provide better services to their citizens.
He reiterated that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with all stakeholders, is committed to ensuring coordinated and integrated efforts to address this pressing issue. He further stressed the need for collective national awareness and responsibility to tackle the population challenge, noting that rising population remains a significant burden on the health system.
Advisor to the Finance Minister, Adnan Pasha Siddiqui, assured full financial and policy support from the Ministry of Finance to control population growth. He emphasized that strong coordination among all relevant institutions will be ensured to effectively address this national challenge.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to adopt comprehensive and coordinated measures to manage population growth and safeguard Pakistan’s sustainable future.
