Gillani Calls for Coordinated Efforts to Address Population Growth

News Desk

Islamabad: President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani on Friday emphasized the need for coordinated efforts, with active participation from provincial governments, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, to manage the country’s rapidly growing population.

Chairing a high-level meeting on population management, the president highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue in line with the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s 2018 suo-moto action and the subsequent recommendations of the Council of Common Interests.

“The challenge of population growth requires collective efforts, especially the support of the provinces, to effectively implement the national action plan on population,” President Gillani stated.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Dr. Nadeem Mehbub, Director General Population Wing, Dr. Soofia Yunus, and other senior officials from the ministry.

The president underscored the importance of reducing the population growth rate and improving key demographic indicators.

He urged all stakeholders, including provincial governments and the private sector, to be engaged in raising awareness about the challenges posed by rapid population expansion. He also stressed the need to enhance public access to family planning services to address unmet needs.

Officials briefed the meeting on the implementation of the National Action Plan on Population (2019-2024) and shared details of the revised National Action Plan on Population (2025-2030), which was developed in consultation with provincial authorities.

It was informed that the new plan is currently awaiting approval and will be tabled for discussion in the upcoming meeting of the Federal Task Force on Population.

The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling population growth through comprehensive policy measures and stakeholder collaboration.