Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formulation of an effective and integrated national strategy to address the challenges posed by rapid population growth in the country.

He was chairing an important meeting on population growth and related issues in Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister also decided to establish a National Population Council for policy-making on population-related matters at the national level. He will personally head the council.

The council will include the chief ministers of all four provinces, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further said that maintaining a balance between resources and population is essential for sustainable development. He said the rapidly growing population is putting pressure on national resources and posing a major challenge to development.

The Prime Minister said the government is making all-out efforts to control the rising population growth rate through awareness campaigns, improved health and education facilities, and balanced development initiatives.

He directed that a “whole-of-government approach” be adopted for better population management and stressed the need to ensure the participation of religious scholars and community leaders in public awareness campaigns.

The meeting was briefed on the country’s growing population and measures being taken for population control and welfare.

It was informed that the population growth rate in the country has reached 2.55 percent, which is a major challenge.

The meeting was apprised that the provision of family planning facilities at all health centres will help control population growth. The social protection programmes will be linked with family planning initiatives.

The briefing highlighted that women’s economic empowerment can play an important role in controlling population growth, while awareness campaigns on family planning are already underway.