Ahsan Iqbal Calls for Urgent Action on Population Growth Amid Development Concerns

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal has issued a clarion call regarding the pressing issue of population growth in Pakistan, asserting that it is outpacing the country’s development. During the 11th meeting of the Parliamentary Forum on Population (PFP), organized by the Population Council in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, Iqbal stressed the importance of prioritizing population management as a national agenda.

He warned that neglecting population planning would render development efforts futile, emphasizing the need for a national consensus on the matter. “We must focus on the quality of human resources, not just the quantity,” Iqbal stated, underlining that producing healthy and educated children is vital for competing globally.

In a move to enhance access to family planning services, Iqbal assured parliamentarians that tax exemptions for contraceptives would be introduced in the next fiscal year, thereby removing financial barriers that hinder effective family planning.

Senator Sherry Rehman, chairperson of the forum, echoed these sentiments, advocating for the integration of population planning into the broader health agenda. She highlighted the critical roles that media and parliamentarians play in raising awareness and called for policy changes to strengthen collective efforts in population management.

Dr. Zeba Sathar, country director of the Population Council, underscored the essential role of parliamentarians in tackling population challenges. She urged them to remove perverse incentives and ensure that the poor have access to family planning services through targeted subsidies.