Pakistan’s population growth rate of 2.55 percent has led to a total population of 241 million, with Sindh alone surpassing 55 million, which puts pressure on the limited resources of the province.
During a meeting of the Taskforce on Population Growth, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted the alarming population surge in the province.
CM Sindh identified two key drivers of the population growth – high birth rates and significant migration from both within Pakistan and abroad.
“This trend places intense pressure on the province’s limited resources, impacting job availability, healthcare, education, housing, and food supply,” he added.
Shah stressed that addressing this issue is a top priority for the government, which has already implemented a variety of policy measures, including the Child Marriage Restraint Act (2013), the Reproductive Health Rights Bill, the Population Policy of Sindh (2016), and the Costed Implementation Plan for Family Planning (2015).
These initiatives aim to mitigate the socio-economic challenges posed by rapid population growth.
The meeting, attended by key stakeholders, also focused on Sindh’s Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) goals.
The task force reported significant progress in integrating stakeholders, such as the engagement of Community Midwives (CMWs) and Lady Health Workers (LHWs), as well as the introduction of the Sayana Press contraceptive and outreach programs for youth and adolescents.
Sindh’s Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) has received global recognition, with USAID’s Momentum Project in Washington D.C. praising it as one of the best practices worldwide.
Despite these achievements, the Taskforce acknowledged challenges in integrating services at the facility level and improving follow-up and counselling efforts.
Moving forward, the roadmap for FP2030 aims to expand integrated health and population services, prioritize quality service delivery, and engage communities in promoting positive social and gender norms.
Murad Shah stressed the importance of strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration, legislative support, and public-private partnerships to ensure universal access to family planning services and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sindh.
The government is also focused on enhancing service delivery through targeted hiring, logistical support, and strengthening partnerships with development partners, NGOs, and donors.