CJ calls for adopting two-pronged strategy to address population growth

The country’s top judge has called for adopting a two-pronged strategy to address the challenges posed by Pakistan’s growing population.

“As the first step, the strategy comprises approaching the federal and provincial governments for implementing the current laws and policies on population,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Saturday.

“As the next step, one should invoke the jurisdiction of the high courts if the governments display any reluctance in implementing these laws,” he added.

The CJP was addressing the participants of two-day National Conference on ‘Resilient Pakistan: Calibrating Population and Resources’ that commenced on Friday.

The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP)—led by the CJP—had organized the conference in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The conference was held with the aim of gauging the implementation of population management policies by the federal and provincial governments in light of the recommendations made after the Human Rights Case No. 17599/2018.

The CJP said he was hopeful that the implementation of the existing law and policies will lead to the enforcement of women’s fundamental rights to life, health, education and employment.

It would enable them to become equal partners and decision-makers in their lives and families and ultimately create a progressive and economically vibrant society, he added.

In his concluding remarks, the CJP acknowledged and appreciated the efforts and participation of the speakers, in particular the women speakers, and thanked the members of the judiciary, bar and public for attending the conference.

During the conference, policymakers and experts outlined the hindrances faced in the implementation of such policies and made proposals for ensuring sustainable population growth in Pakistan.

The second day of the conference saw a substantial turnout of judges from the superior and district judiciary, renowned academics, foreign dignitaries, experts and members of the national and international legal community.

The day commenced with the third session of the conference titled “Demographic Trends and Implications for Pakistan”.

The session was co-chaired by Supreme Court judge Aminuddin Khan and Dr Sania Nishtar.

The speakers for the session shared detailed data on demographic trends and the ground realities of their impact on the general population – particularly women and children.

The panelists concluded that Pakistan’s youthful population presented a unique opportunity for socio-economic development, which required a cross-sectoral approach to fully harness the potential.

The second session, titled “Pathways to Economic and Social Cohesion”, focused on micro and macro level changes for a sustainable future and started with a speech by the chair, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar who emphasized the need to engage and invest in youth to secure a better future.

The panelists proposed ways to create an enabling environment for the youth—environment which would result in a demographic dividend and sustainable development for all, especially in light of newer challenges such as urban migration and climate change.

Shehzad Roy—Population Planning Goodwill Ambassador—while speaking on the importance of family planning advocacy stated that, to create an impact, it is necessary to change the mindset of people.

He said he is working on an initiative whereby couples would be required to take a reproductive health course as a prerequisite for the registration of their nikkah with the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA).

The final session of the day chaired by Justice Ayesha A Malik was titled “Women Rights, Empowerment and Equality”. It began with a video message from UN Assistant Secretary-General Diene Keita who affirmed UNFPA’s continued commitment to helping Pakistan reach its full potential.

She said the solution might be embedded in three aspects—investment in capacity and human capital and access to opportunity.

Khawar Mumtaz—women’s rights activist and former chairperson of the National Commission on Status of Women—said there are three important components of women’s empowerment: education, employment, and their agency.

World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and Head of Mission in Pakistan Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala outlined the specific healthcare issues that women encounter in Pakistan.

She said these issues related to maternal, sexual, and reproductive health required immediate attention, “Women’s rights are not an aspiration but fundamental necessity to the progress of a country.”

Academic Shahnaz Wazir Ali discussed how socially constructed norms disempower girls from a young age, leading to unequal rights and discriminatory treatment that impact them as adults.

Federal Ombudsperson against Women Harassment Fouzia Viqar further stressed the need to have women in leadership roles and include them in decision making processes. Achieving this requires the creation of enabling workplaces which have basic facilities such as bathrooms and daycare centers.

The overarching sentiment shared by the speakers over the course of the conference was the need for a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to address not only the problem of rapid population growth, but its current and future implications.

Akhuwat Foundation CEO Dr Amjad Saqib further underscored the need to rid the country of the elite capture and stressed the importance of social protection as a collective responsibility.

Throughout the conference, various panelists also recommended that the focus needs to be on investing in the capacity of women and utilizing their potential as accelerators of economic growth.

Justice Ayesha said “population management is not about controlling individuals but enabling their enjoyment of basic fundamental rights”. She said: “Gender equality is not just about fairness; it is a facilitator for sustainable development because it unlocks the potential of half the population.”

Academic Dr Asif Ifthikar while presenting the religious perspective on sustainable growth, noted that “when we give veneration to past traditions, equating them to the Quran and Sunnah we limit the possibility of bringing about change”. He urged that open dialogue and discourse should be adopted to educate the masses and eliminate misconceptions regarding family planning in Islam.

Council of Islamic Ideology (CCII) chief Dr Qibla Ayaz in his video message said balance and organization are the best way to deal with the population crisis.

He said family planning results in a better quality of life for children. Justice Ayesha remarked that while “the road ahead is long and challenging” it is still “achievable, if we invest in our women.”