A two-day summit on population concluded in Islamabad with a stark warning: Pakistan is rapidly outpacing its capacity to sustain population growth in relation to national resources.
Speakers — including political leaders, experts, and religious scholars — called for a unified, cross-institutional response to what they termed an “existential crisis.” They argued that unchecked population growth is placing severe strain on healthcare, food and water security, education, urban planning, and labour markets.
Attaullah Tarar, the Information Minister, emphasised that the constitutional right to life is being undermined, warning that neonatal, maternal, and reproductive-health services are under strain. He urged a parliamentary debate, the formation of a working group, and a formal national charter to address the demographic challenge.
Religious and legal scholars present at the summit defended family planning and birth spacing, stating that such measures are consistent with religious doctrine and that Islam allows birth spacing when health is at risk.
The summit concluded with calls for women’s empowerment, stronger coordination between federal and provincial institutions, and a broad-based strategy to manage population growth before demographic pressures overwhelm national capacity.