Balochistan’s Population Growth Crisis
Muhammad Hussain
Quetta: Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, is home to around 14.5 million people. Despite having the smallest population compared to other provinces, it faces immense challenges in managing rapid population growth.
The province’s vast and diverse geography, coupled with limited access to essential services like healthcare and education, has made population management a complex task.
As the population continues to rise, the strain on resources intensifies, making it crucial to address these issues for the well-being of Balochistan’s residents.
In an interview, Director General of the Population Welfare Department, Ghulam Mustafa, said that “One of the most concerning issues is the maternal mortality rate, which stands at 270 deaths per 100,000 live births far higher than the national average of 186.
This stark disparity underscores the urgent need for better healthcare facilities and increased access to family planning services.”
For many women in rural Balochistan, healthcare access is not just a matter of convenience—it’s a matter of life and death. Mustafa stressed that one of the key solutions to these challenges lies in providing comprehensive family planning services across all levels of society.
“Contraceptive access is a basic human right,” he asserted, emphasizing the state’s responsibility to ensure that everyone, particularly women, has access to the tools to plan their families.
Empowering women with the ability to make informed decisions about reproductive health, he added, can alleviate pressure on the province’s resources and contribute to better health outcomes for mothers and children alike.
Rahila Durrani, the Education Minister of Balochistan, said “Education is essential for making informed decisions about family size and reproductive health. When families are educated, they are more likely to plan their families in a way that benefits their overall well-being,” Durrani explained.
She emphasized that the key to managing sustainable population growth lies in ensuring that women have access to both education and healthcare. “By educating women, we not only help them secure better futures for themselves but also improve the chances of their children having better lives,” she added.
Durrani also stressed the significance of birth spacing—a practice aligned with medical recommendations and Islamic teachings. She advocated for a gap of at least two years between births to ensure the health of both mother and child.
“A well-spaced birth gives the mother the chance to recover physically and emotionally, and it ensures that each child is given the best chance for a healthy life,” Durrani said, emphasizing the importance of this practice for both maternal and child health.
Despite these efforts, significant barriers to healthcare access persist, particularly in rural areas.
Dr Uzma Sohail, the Head of Gynecology at Civil Hospital Quetta, highlighted the logistical challenges families face in seeking medical care. She said, “In rural areas, transportation remains a major issue.
Many families live far from healthcare centers, and the lack of reliable transportation makes it difficult for them to reach medical services,” she noted.
Dr Uzma also pointed out the issue of contraceptive shortages and the inconsistencies in the supply chain that complicate family planning efforts.
“Even when people want to seek help, there are times when contraceptives simply aren’t available,” she said, calling for improved inventory management and distribution networks to ensure reliable access to family planning resources, particularly in remote areas.
Dr Zaib Dahar, the Country Director of Pathfinder, while speaking about the role of youth and women in addressing population growth, said “Over 64 percent of Pakistan’s population is under 30 years old, and a significant portion of this group is in their reproductive years. This demographic represents both a challenge and an opportunity,” Dr Zaib explained.
She emphasized the importance of providing education and resources to empower young people, particularly women, in making informed decisions about reproductive health.
“Many women want to use family planning methods but lack access to them,” she said, underlining the need for increased investment in the education and economic empowerment of women.
Dr Zaib stressed that when women are educated and financially empowered, they are more likely to make informed choices about their health and families.
Looking to the future, Balochistan’s population challenges demand a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. Key to this is improving healthcare access, especially in rural areas, ensuring the availability of family planning services, and investing in education for both boys and girls.
A balanced and sustainable approach to population growth will require collective action from all sectors of society. By addressing the root causes of rapid population growth—such as limited access to education and healthcare.
Balochistan can begin to build a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive in a healthy, well-resourced environment.
These efforts not only promise to improve the quality of life for the people of Balochistan but also ensure that the province’s future growth is managed in a way that is equitable, sustainable, and aligned with national priorities and the principles of justice.
The information and statistics provided in this feature report are the sole responsibility of the reporter.
Muhammad Hussain is a freelance journalist and content creator from Quetta, Balochistan, specializing in storytelling on climate change, refugee rights, and women’s empowerment.
