Family planning and social norms

Pakistan's family planning challenge extends beyond access to contraceptives. Deeply entrenched social norms, limited decision-making space and constraints on women's agency remain major barriers to couples achieving their desired family size.

One in five women who would like to plan and space their families is unable to do so. Research into the underlying causes of unmet need for family planning shows that decisions are rarely made by couples in isolation but are often shaped by the fear of social disapproval. Education, income opportunities, household structure, kinship networks, living arrangements where several generations share a household, and prevailing expectations about marriage and childbearing all shape what women and men believe they can decide. These patterns must be understood, discussed and, where necessary, challenged if couples are to plan their families according to their aspirations.

Pakistan's religious context offers an important, and underused, pathway for challenging entrenched sociocultural norms, particularly those that are at odds with religious teachings. Islamic teachings place emphasis on marital responsibility, preparedness for marriage and, after marriage, the wellbeing of the family. Quranic guidance concerning marriage and family life stresses the responsibility of men to provide for and care for their households. The institutions of dowry and mahr recognise the woman's financial security and rights within marriage. These principles can provide a foundation for promoting responsible family formation within the precepts of religious teachings.

The media has a powerful role in this effort. Around the world, entertainment and communication have helped shift attitudes by creating role models and demonstrating the benefits of education, shared decision-making and greater agency for women. Pakistan can use these platforms to question social practices that restrict girls' education, limit women's economic opportunities, contribute to unmet need for family planning and perpetuate gender discrimination.

This does not mean challenging tradition. It means distinguishing between cultural practices and religious principles and encouraging social norms that strengthen families rather than constrain them. In a Muslim-majority country, religiously grounded messaging can be especially effective. Clear, consistent communication through media, engaging respected scholars, can help demonstrate that responsible parenthood, mutual respect, privacy and consideration for a mother's wellbeing are compatible with faith.

There are lessons, too, from several Muslim-majority countries, including countries in the Middle East, where expectations concerning the responsibilities of husbands and wives, household arrangements and family wellbeing have evolved, resulting in fertility levels much lower than in Pakistan. The objective should not be to examine how communities can create family environments in which newly married couples have greater privacy, dignity and space to make decisions together.

Islamic teachings also emphasise parental responsibility for children's wellbeing. The Quran refers to breastfeeding for two years and acknowledges the hardship experienced by mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. Such recognition reinforces the importance of appreciating women's contribution to family life and ensuring that their health, dignity and wellbeing are not overlooked by exposing them to the hardships of repeated pregnancies.

But evidence is essential. More in-depth research is needed to understand how kinship, living arrangements, gender norms and economic conditions influence fertility decisions and contraceptive use. That evidence should inform both policy and communication.

Pakistan cannot achieve a sustainable fertility transition by expanding services alone. It must also expand the space in which couples can make informed, voluntary decisions. With evidence, responsible religious leadership and imaginative media, Pakistan can move towards families that are healthier, more harmonious and better equipped to prosper.