Sustainable Population Management: A Path To Prosperity For Pakistan – OpEd
With an ever growing population in Pakistan, the fifth most populous country on earth, has a major challenge in the management of its population. Sustainable population management is essential for socio-economic stability and social development and an improved quality of life to future generations, since the population exceeds 240 million.
Although efforts of the Population Welfare Department since 1953 for promoting family planning and reproductive health have done well, the pace has not been fast enough because of cultural, religious and economic barriers. Challenges to be addressed in this regard must be tackled using a comprehensive approach which includes education, health care, economic incentives, community engagement, etc.
Pakistan is one of growing population country across the globe and requiring maximum efforts to curb rapid population expansion. Of this, approximately 127.6 million reside in Punjab, a province with a growth estimated at 2.54% annually which is to be reduced to1.2% by 2030. Progress has been made in fertility rates reduction and a rise in the prevalence of contraception, but more should be put into play to achieve sustainable development.
Promising trends in the efforts to support family planning and reproductive health in Pakistan have been seen. Punjab fertility rate in 2017 was 3.7 decreased to 3.5 in 2024 which indicates gradual decline in small family size. Besides, contraceptive prevalence among married women 15–49 years old has grown from 34.4% in 2017 to 40.1% in 2024 therefore indicating increased awareness and accessibility. However, despite these improvements, there is still an unmet need in the area of family planning that barely decreases from 17.8% in 2017 to 16.7% in 2024.
Two socio-cultural and an economic factor impedes successful population control in Pakistan. A large number of young people is aged 15-49. Pakistan is one of top seven countries with high adolescent pregnancy rates and hence targeted intervention is required. Family planning education can prevent teenage pregnancies and unsafe abortions that leave such a toll on maternal health and child wellbeing, and also inequities between men and women. To disseminate reproductive health awareness, social and electronic media platforms can do a lot as these are the ones that reach the youth. Engagement can be enhanced and disease information can spread on contraception and reproductive health via digital campaign, WhatsApp Chabot’s and interactive youth seminars.
The participation of the men is often key to successful interventions in the field of family planning services, especially if the norm of the patriarchal society estranges women from getting population family planning services. In addition, in-laws, and especially mothers-in-law, also drive reproductive decisions and this cannot happen without the knowledge of the whole family. Another hurdle to using contraception is lack or religious misconceptions. Preventing and countering misinformation through collaborating with religious leaders to promote family planning in Islamic teachings can also be helpful. Larger family size is a consequence of economic insecurity because children are regarded as financial assets. Financial concerns can be addressed through employment opportunities, economic incentives and skill development programs for which birth spacing and smaller families can be adopted. The problem has seen the availability and affordability of contraceptives remain a challenge. Expanding access to contraceptive services through healthcare centers, pharmacies or even through community health workers will have a great impact on family planning uptake rates. Furthermore, providing family planning services as part of maternal and child healthcare services is likely to promote wider acceptance of the service and access.
In order to curb sustainable population management in Pakistan, a holistic approach that involves education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and technological interventions will have to be taken. Encouraging the involvement of male in reproductive health discussion and decision making process can have a a great influence towards success of family planning initiatives. Women who are financially independent and educated are given the opportunity to make informed reproductive choices. Technical training program and vocational education can also reduce women’s dependence behind large families, allow women to make better family planning decision.
To increase awareness increasing the school’s curriculum or adult literacy programs need to integrate the reproductive health education. Further public campaign can be done through social media, television and radio. The position of the religious leaders helps to shape public opinion. Public attitudes can be significantly impacted by their endorsement of family planning as a means of ensuring the wellbeing of families and also of society. A digital client tracking system can help implement client service delivery, assure adequate contraceptive supply management, as well as strengthen accountability. There are other mechanisms such as mobile application, SMS alert and telehealth services that could facilitate access to reproductive health information and services.
For the management of Pakistan’s growing population, it is necessary to adopt an integrated measure, that is, it includes the use of education; healthcare; technological advances; culturally accepting the issue. By compromising on active planning and working with the youth, the religious leaders and the communities Pakistan can attain sustainable development along with enhanced public health indicators. To secure a bright and stable country future, Pakistan should put the family planning first and tackle socio cultural and economic challenges. It is not simply a policy goal but rather a necessity to the sustainability and continued economic and social progress and enhanced quality of life for future generations to manage the population effectively.
