Parliamentary forum calls for coordinated action to address Pakistan’s population challenge

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Forum on Population (PFP) has called for coordinated action by federal and provincial governments, stronger parliamentary oversight and a time-bound national action plan to address Pakistan’s population challenges.

At its 17th meeting, parliamentarians from the Senate, National Assembly, provincial assemblies and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly discussed measures to translate national commitments into practical action, with a focus on accountability, public awareness and integrating population concerns into development planning.

Convened by the Population Council with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the meeting emphasised the need for sustained parliamentary leadership and stronger coordination among government institutions to deliver measurable progress.

PFP Chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman stressed the need for sustained parliamentary ownership and greater public awareness.

“Addressing Pakistan’s population challenges requires sustained parliamentary leadership, stronger oversight and coordinated action across federal and provincial governments,” she said.

She highlighted the role of Lady Health Workers and local governments in reaching communities and called for public awareness campaigns through television, radio and digital platforms in national and local languages.

She also stressed that rapid population growth contributes to child stunting, food insecurity and poor maternal and child nutrition by placing increasing pressure on household resources, public services and food systems.

Population Council Pakistan Country Director Dr Ali Mohammad Mir highlighted the PFP’s role in promoting evidence-informed policymaking and parliamentary accountability.

“The Parliamentary Forum on Population provides an important platform to strengthen parliamentary oversight, provide evidence-informed recommendations to the government, and hold institutions accountable for action. Above all, it seeks to ensure that population dynamics are addressed not as a burden, but as a strategic national priority and an opportunity to accelerate inclusive, equitable and sustainable development,” he said.

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal underscored the need to integrate population considerations into national development planning.

“Development is not only about infrastructure; it is about ensuring that every child has a fair chance to thrive and every woman has access to quality healthcare,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of girls’ education, women’s empowerment and coordinated action between federal and provincial governments. He noted that Pakistan’s population growth rate had increased from 2.4 per cent in 2017 to 2.55 per cent in 2023.

He also called for a revision of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to eliminate what he described as “perverse incentives” in the existing resource distribution formula, which allocates funds primarily on the basis of population.

PFP Vice Chairperson MNA Dr Farooq Sattar called for Parliament and provincial assemblies to play a more active role in legislation, oversight and implementation.

“Parliament must move beyond resolutions and take a more active role in legislation, oversight and implementation,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of engaging local governments and strengthening accountability to ensure that population-related commitments translated into practical action at the community level.

The plenary discussion highlighted the need for a time-bound national action plan, stronger provincial ownership, adequate budget allocations and effective monitoring. Participants also stressed the importance of public awareness, better coordination between population and health services, girls’ education, and measures to address malnutrition and other human development challenges.

They called for greater parliamentary engagement to ensure that commitments were followed through with measurable results.

National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue Chairman Syed Naveed Qamar emphasised the need to translate national commitments into a practical and accountable framework.

“Pakistan needs a clear, time-bound plan of action backed by provincial ownership, adequate budget allocations and effective monitoring,” he said, calling for coordinated efforts by federal and provincial governments to achieve measurable progress.

UNFPA Pakistan Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh also underscored the importance of parliamentary leadership and coordinated action in addressing Pakistan’s population challenges.

He stressed the need to translate national commitments into concrete measures that advance sustainable development and improve the well-being of families.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the PFP Islamabad statement, reaffirming the importance of parliamentary support, coordinated national action and stronger oversight to advance Pakistan’s population and development priorities.