Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared rapid population growth Pakistan’s biggest long-term challenge and announced that the government aims to halve the country’s population growth rate from 2.55 percent to 1.25 percent by 2035 under a new national strategy.

Chairing a high-level meeting on population welfare in Islamabad, the prime minister said population management must go hand in hand with economic stability, human capital development, and sustainable national growth. He described responsible family planning as a national priority and called for stronger coordination between the federal and provincial governments, backed by extensive public awareness campaigns.

Officials briefed the meeting on the proposed National Population Stabilization Plan 2026-2035, which is designed to reduce Pakistan’s population growth rate by half over the next decade. The meeting was also informed that the operational framework for the National Population Council Secretariat has been finalized.

Shehbaz directed officials to convene a meeting of the National Population Council, bringing together the chief ministers of all four provinces, the leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and other key stakeholders to finalize and implement the strategy.

According to the briefing, the plan will focus on expanding access to healthcare and education, improving youth development and vocational training, strengthening social protection programs, and increasing women’s participation in the workforce. The government also plans to align several federal welfare initiatives with population management objectives.

The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, National Health Services Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and other senior officials.