PM Shehbaz told Pakistan aims to halve population growth rate by 2035
- PM terms rapid population growth Pakistan's biggest challenge
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday termed rapidly increasing population as Pakistan’s biggest challenge, stressing that population planning must be aligned with national progress, economic stability, and human resource development.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on population welfare in Islamabad, the Prime Minister declared population control a “national duty” and called for enhanced coordination with provinces alongside effective public awareness campaigns to ensure sustainable national growth.
According to the PM Office, PM Shehbaz directed officials to immediately convene a meeting of the National Population Council. The upcoming session will bring together chief ministers of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and key stakeholders to finalize a comprehensive national strategy.
During the meeting, officials briefed the Prime Minister on population trends and preparations for the council’s session, confirming that the operating procedures for the National Population Council Secretariat have been finalized.
The meeting was informed that the government is drafting the National Stabilization Plan 2026–2035, a national framework aimed at curbing the population growth rate. Under the proposed plan, Pakistan aims to reduce its current population growth rate from 2.55% to 1.25% by 2035, the forum was told.
The new framework will focus on key sectors including healthcare, education, youth development, vocational training, social protection, and increasing women’s participation in the labour force. Additionally, work has begun to link several federal social protection initiatives directly to population welfare compliance.
The review meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and senior government officials.