A new study has cautioned that Pakistan’s population growth remains a major challenge as fertility rates have shown little change for nearly two decades raising concerns for the country’s long-term economic and social progress.
Released by the Population Council with support from the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office the report highlights that Pakistan’s fertility decline began later than regional peers and stalled around 2006.
Since then birth rates have remained high largely due to slow improvements in education income levels child survival and women’s empowerment.
Researchers found that strong cultural norms favoring larger families continue to influence reproductive choices resulting in limited use of modern family planning methods, even among younger couples.
Speaking at the launch event Population Council Country Director Dr Zeba Sathar noted that Pakistan stands out in South Asia for its prolonged fertility stagnation with an average of about 3.6 children per woman.
She stressed that investing in girls’ education skills development and women’s autonomy is essential for improving health strengthening families and boosting economic growth.
Former Population Council vice president Dr John PM Bongaarts warned that without urgent action Pakistan’s stalled fertility could lead to rapid population expansion putting additional strain on public services and development resources.
He called for stronger efforts to address unmet family planning needs and improve access to voluntary reproductive health services.
Panelists also pointed to systemic barriers limiting women’s ability to choose smaller families. UNFPA Country Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh said many women want fewer children but gaps in policy implementation shortages of health workers and inconsistent contraceptive supplies restrict their options.
LUMS Dean Dr Faisal Bari added that fertility trends are closely linked to broader inequalities including access to education healthcare employment opportunities and child survival.
The study concluded that reversing the fertility stall will require coordinated long-term investments across multiple sectors.
It recommended achieving key targets by 2035 such as reducing child mortality expanding secondary education for girls cutting poverty levels and promoting inclusive economic growth to support sustainable population change.
Also read: “Pakistan’s Existential Threats Population, Climate Change” :FM Aurangzeb
