Time to exercise leadership
The writer is a public health specialist who works for the Population Council Islamabad
In the annals of history, nations often stand at pivotal crossroads, confronted with challenges demanding visionary leadership and profound decisions. Today, Pakistan finds itself at such a critical juncture, facing multiple challenges that necessitate more than just attention — they demand genuine leadership. True leadership, as history has shown, goes beyond the pursuit of popularity; it requires the courage to make bold decisions for the greater good of the people.
The socioeconomic landscape of Pakistan paints a stark picture. Despite its vast potential, Pakistan’s human development indices are declining, health indicators are disturbing and preventable deaths haunt mothers and children. Arable land is rapidly diminishing, transforming a once food-sufficient nation into one forced to import grains. A large proportion of children remains out of school, and the rapid depletion of renewable natural resources and damage to biodiversity compromise the future of the coming generations.
As the nation approaches the coming general elections, the electorate deserves more than mere rhetoric; it demands a clear articulation of strategies to expedite the improvement of their quality of life and alleviate their suffering — a fundamental right. Regrettably, the prevailing discourse lacks a comprehensive roadmap for addressing the nation’s problems. While politicians acknowledge the plight of the people, a critical absence remains — a tangible plan for pulling Pakistan out of the quagmire.
The Population Council has been actively providing evidence to all stakeholders, including political leadership, establishing the linkage between Pakistan’s current problems and the root cause — its rapidly expanding population. Despite a growing religious and political consensus on the issue, the response to stabilise the population remains modest due to a lack of political will and sustained commitment.
Global examples abound, showcasing countries with similar challenges where bold leadership decisions and a commitment to population planning led to phenomenal improvements in their development trajectories. For instance, in the post-revolution Iran, the Supreme Leader issued an edict that led to a successful population planning programme. Bangladesh’s first Prime Minister, Sheikh Mujeeb, called for measures to lower the country’s population growth rate to prevent famines. Singapore’s Lee Kwan Yew correlated population growth reduction with national prosperity, steering the nation from a Third World country to one from the First World in a single generation. Kenya, Indonesia and Rwanda experienced successful population planning programmes and subsequent economic turnarounds with strong support from their heads of government.
In the pre-election period, it is an opportune moment for political leaders to demonstrate genuine leadership. This is a moment to rise above conventional political point scoring and focus on articulating their stance on social issues such as health, education and population planning. The political leadership needs to include in party manifestos a commitment to balance the population size according to our resources; to revisit the NFC formula and remove perverse incentives in fiscal allocation to the provinces based on population size; increase resource allocation to expand equitable access to family planning services and information, empowering couples to make informed choices about their family size; remove gender disparities in economic opportunities and healthcare; and ensure compulsory education for all.
It is hoped that these issues will be highlighted in the political discourse leading up to the elections and forcefully tackled by the incoming government. The time for decisive action is now, and we hope that the forthcoming elections will mark a turning point when leaders think beyond the short term and focus on long-term solutions that positively impact the lives of our people. True leadership beckons — we hope our leaders will rise to the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2023.
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