Charting path to sustainable growth

Federal Minister for 'Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said that effective service delivery, particularly in family planning and healthcare, requires true devolution of authority within provinces. It's not enough to merely delegate responsibilities; they must reach the grassroots level to make a real impact. Strengthening local governments is, therefore, essential to achieving sustainable population growth and, ultimately, broader development goals.

He was speaking at the launch of the multi-chapter volume entitled, "Pakistan's Population @ 2050: Demographic Change, Future Projections, and Development Opportunities," produced by the population council with the support of UNFPA.

The minister was the chief guest at the launch ceremony organised by the Population Council in collaboration with UNFPA.

The minister noted that the report provides an in-depth analysis of the latest census results, offering future guidance and essential tools to address the challenges posed by a growing population. He emphasised the importance of policy continuity, women's empowerment through education, human capital development, and expanding access to health and family planning services. "To achieve sustainable population growth and our national development goals, we must come together as Team Pakistan, fostering collaboration and unity to effectively address our challenges," he added.

Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, emphasised the need to adopt a holistic approach, stating, "Population growth must be treated as an urgent priority; otherwise, we risk falling short of our development goals. The issue of rapid population growth must be addressed through the lenses of economic impact, resource allocation, climate change, and demographic shifts."

Pakistan@2050 offers comprehensive evidence and insights into the complex relationship between population dynamics and development. This volume goes beyond demographic analysis, exploring not only projections of population numbers and age structures up to 2050 but also considering other critical sectors. The report presents evidence that key development outcomes, particularly those highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, are deeply influenced by population trends. It argues that Pakistan's demographic realities must be reconceptualised within the broader context of its socio-economic challenges and opportunities.

Population Council Country Director Dr Zeba Sathar highlighted the intrinsic connections between demographic trends, education, and economic outcomes in Pakistan. Dr Sathar stressed the critical importance of prioritising the development of women and girls for progress across all sectors. Furthermore, she noted that integrating fertility reduction into climate adaptation plans is essential for ensuring long-term resilience.

Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Dr Nafisa Shahm emphasized that population management should be approached from a broader perspective, not just with a narrow focus on reducing fertility. She advocated for examining the underlying social constructs contributing to population growth and stressed that population stabilization strategies should address these critical issues highlighted in the report.