‘Population control, women’s empowerment a must to achieve development goals’

ISLAMABAD: “Effective service delivery, particularly in family planning and healthcare, requires true devolution of authority within provinces. It’s not enough to merely delegate responsibilities; they must reach the grassroots level to make a real impact. Strengthening local governments is, therefore, essential to achieving sustainable population growth and, ultimately, broader development goals,” said Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal at the launch of the multi-chapter volume entitled, “Pakistan’s Population 2050: Demographic Change, Future Projections, and Development Opportunities,” produced by the population council with the support of UNFPA.

The minister was the chief guest at the launch ceremony organized by the Population Council in collaboration with UNFPA.

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The minister while highly appreciating the endeavour noted that the report provides an in-depth analysis of the latest census results, offering future guidance and essential tools to address the challenges posed by a growing population.

He emphasized the importance of policy continuity, women’s empowerment through education, human capital development, and expanding access to health and family planning services. “To achieve sustainable population growth and our national development goals, we must come together as team Pakistan, fostering collaboration and unity to effectively address our challenges,” he added.

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Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, emphasized the need to adopt a holistic approach, stating, “Population growth must be treated as an urgent priority; otherwise, we risk falling short of our development goals.

The issue of rapid population growth must be addressed through the lenses of economic impact, resource allocation, climate change, and demographic shifts.”

Pakistan@2050 offers comprehensive evidence and insights into the complex relationship between population dynamics and development. This volume goes beyond demographic analysis, exploring not only projections of population numbers and age structures up to 2050 but also considering other critical sectors.

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The report presents evidence that key development outcomes, particularly those highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, are deeply influenced by population trends.

It argues that Pakistan’s demographic realities must be reconceptualized within the broader context of its socio-economic challenges and opportunities.

Introducing the report, Dr Zeba Sathar, Country Director of the Population Council, highlighted the intrinsic connections between demographic trends, education, and economic outcomes in Pakistan.

Dr Sathar stressed the critical importance of prioritizing the development of women and girls for progress across all sectors. Furthermore, she noted that integrating fertility reduction into climate adaptation plans is essential for ensuring long-term resilience.

Dr Nafisa Shah, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, emphasised that population management should be approached from a broader perspective, not just with a narrow focus on reducing fertility.

She advocated for examining the underlying social constructs contributing to population growth and stressed that population stabilization strategies should address these critical issues highlighted in the report.

Speaking at the event, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services stated that the government is collaborating with provinces to implement decisions from the Council of Common Interest aimed at achieving population stabilization.

Two of the report’s authors, Dr Hanid Mukhtar and Dr GM Arif, discussed key findings, underscoring the relationship between national savings and household size, and the need for structural changes that would enable Pakistan to realize the benefits of planned urbanization.

Pio Smith, Regional Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), stated that to leverage Pakistan’s demographic dividend, the country must invest in human capital by empowering women, reducing unintended pregnancies, and providing women with rights and choices.

The report highlights the need to address population issues as part of a political agenda while focusing on climate resilience, resource optimization, and gender equality.

UNFPA remains committed to supporting Pakistan’s sustainable development, and this report serves as a roadmap for future policies to ensure prosperity through collaboration across all sectors.