ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has mandated the creation of a comprehensive national policy to tackle the challenges posed by the country’s rapid population increase. This directive was issued during a significant meeting in Islamabad focused on population growth and its related issues.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister announced the formation of a National Population Council, which he will personally lead. The council will consist of the chief ministers from all four provinces, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. The meeting underscored the urgent need to balance resources with the growing population to ensure sustainable development, as the burgeoning population exerts pressure on the nation’s resources.

Prime Minister Sharif emphasized a “whole-of-government approach” for effective population management. He advocated for the involvement of religious scholars and community leaders in public awareness campaigns to address the rising population growth rate. The meeting was informed that the current population growth rate stands at 2.55 percent, a significant challenge for the country.

The briefing highlighted ongoing awareness campaigns on family planning and the importance of women’s economic empowerment in controlling population growth. The government aims to enhance family planning facilities at health centers and link social protection programs with these initiatives to manage the population increase effectively.