World Population Day: Pakistan adding more people than it can feed, educate, warn leaders

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is preparing more people than that, and unless immediate action is taken, the country’s economic future, social stability and human development will fall under the weight of increased population.

It was a central warning, which was issued by top political leaders, policy makers and religious scholars on the World Population Day 2025, which was observed at a high -level national gathering in Islamabad, organized by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal presented a powerful key statement, in which the population growth was announced not only on a development issue, but also on a national emergency. “We are adding more people every year than the population of New Zealand,” he said. “Two million children are already out of school. Our hospitals look like public rallies, our doctors are confused, and our sewerage systems are falling. This is a national crisis, not a political debate.”

Kamal revealed that Pakistan’s fertility rate is 3.6 – which is the highest in the region – and it highlighted the effects of its clashes: 40 pcs suffering from amazing growth of children, linked 68 pc diseases to unsafe drinking water, and more health care system. “A doctor sees 250 patients a day instead of 35. Can a system survive like this?” He asked.

He highlighted the links between population and resources allocation, note that the NFC award was divided on the basis of 82 PC population. Kamal suggested that only 50 PCs of the award be linked to the population, the remaining 32 PCs are used to award the provinces that manage to reduce their growth rate. He also announced the establishment of a national task force on the population by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to prepare an immediate, integrated policy.

Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb echoed the warning, which has given a list of population growth along with climate change as there are two threats to Pakistan’s stability. “Food insecurity, poor cleaning, clean water shortage-they are all associated with the population,” he said, adding that one-third of Pakistan’s 10-year partnership with the World Bank will now lead to population and climate reduction efforts. “We are obliged to work with the Ministry of Health.”

Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan has failed to stunt the child in the last 40 years due to the efforts of Pakistan. “This is not just a health problem – this is a national productive problem. If our children are weak, less, and illiterate, how will they compete with the world?”

The Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf acknowledged that the pressure of the population has been discussed for decades, yet solid progress is vague. “We have failed to reach the villages with the facts. We have never included our scholars nor made this message localized – and now the window is closing.”

Religious scholar Mufti Zobir offered an Islamic confirmation of family planning. “There is no contradiction between Islam and responsible parents. The health of mothers and children comes first. We need to speak the truth from every member.”

Dr. Tariq Fazil Chaudhry reminded how family planning campaigns once dominated Pakistani television – but now, with more than 100 channels, there is silence. “We have gone to action with action. Parliamentarians have to be re -guided. The time for speeches has passed.”

UNFPA’s country representative Louie Shabnia emphasized that international partners are fully associated with Pakistan’s goals, but warned that rights -based family planning, empowering women and reproductive health should be given priority in all areas of policy.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Liaokot Ali Khan proposed population funds and more financial sovereignty for the provinces, while also referring to future estimates, which are moving towards population destruction by 2050 if the current route continues.

The conference concluded with a firm commitment to the Ministry of Health to move beyond rhetoric. The Federal Secretary for Health said the population crisis requires political will, bold reform and permanent public engagement – “Because it is no longer about the number. It is about survival.”

From increasing poverty to shrinking public services, the consensus was clear: Without slowing down the engine of its population, Pakistan’s developmental dream can never go away from the ground.