ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the government to speed up population reforms, saying balanced population growth is essential for sustainable development and economic stability.
Chairing a meeting on population welfare, the Prime Minister said rapid population growth is putting increasing pressure on national resources and called for population planning to be aligned with development goals.
He directed authorities to convene the inaugural meeting of the National Population Council and finalize its organizational structure without delay.
The Council, headed by the Prime Minister, will include the chief ministers of all four provinces, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, and other key stakeholders.
The meeting was informed that social protection programmes will be linked with family planning initiatives, while women’s education and economic empowerment will remain central to the population strategy.
Officials also announced a nationwide awareness campaign to promote balanced population growth, noting that countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Iran have successfully implemented similar programmes.
The Council’s Secretariat will be established in the Ministry of Planning to coordinate the nationwide campaign with provincial governments.
