At the National Press Club in Islamabad, Professor Dr Mahtab Syed Karim, president of the Population Association of Pakistan, warned that Population Growth is the country’s most pressing challenge. He said if the current trend continues Pakistan’s population could reach 37 crore by 2050, a surge that would create severe food shortages and strain public services.
Dr Saima Bashir joined Professor Karim at the press conference to announce a two-day conference aimed at public awareness. The event will bring together experts to discuss problems emerging from rapid Population Growth and to brief both the public and government on the full scope of the crisis.
Professor Karim emphasized that Population Growth is a national problem that cannot be solved by individuals alone and requires coordinated policy and community action. He noted that Pakistan currently has one of the highest birth growth rates in the region, around 2.5% per year, while neighbouring countries have achieved significant reductions through targeted policies.
Both speakers stressed that family planning is not prohibited in Islam and that leading religious scholars support its permissibility. They urged that imams and mosque leaders be educated to help communicate this message, so communities can make informed choices. Rapid Population Growth, they said, not only risks food insecurity but also limits children’s access to quality education and health care while increasing unemployment and crime.
The upcoming conference will provide a platform for specialists to propose practical steps for family planning awareness, community engagement and policy measures designed to lessen the impending pressure on food supplies and public services caused by unchecked Population Growth.
