Karachi (HRNW) – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has termed unchecked population growth one of Pakistan\u2019s most serious social and economic challenges, stressing the need for sustained, evidence-based family planning policies to secure the country\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
He was addressing a programme, *Waqfa \u2013 Tawazun Ke Liye*, organised by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Foundation (MKRF) and Population Council Pakistan to launch a social and behavioural change campaign on family planning, at the Hindu Gymkhana, NAPA Auditorium, on Friday. The programme was also addressed by MPA Nida Khuhro, Country Director Population Council Pakistan Dr Zeba Sathar, UK Deputy High Commissioner Lance Domm, and MKRF Managing Director Shahrukh Hasan.<\/p>\n
The chief minister recalled that Pakistan underwent a historic turning point in 1971, when the country was divided. He said that at the time, Pakistan\u2019s population was around 62 million, Bangladesh had about 70 million people, and India\u2019s population was slightly below 550 million.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the demographic shift over the last 54 years, CM Murad Ali Shah said that today India\u2019s population has reached 1.48 billion, Bangladesh stands at 177 million, while Pakistan\u2019s population has surged to 259 million.<\/p>\n
Mr Shah explained that population growth patterns reveal stark contrasts. \u201cIndia\u2019s population grew by 2.7 times, Bangladesh\u2019s by about two and a half times, while Pakistan\u2019s population grew by 4.2 times,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
The CM further said that while India and Bangladesh maintained a population growth ratio close to 1.8 per cent, India still managed to keep its growth rate 1.7 per cent lower than Pakistan\u2019s, underscoring the effectiveness of long-term population management policies.<\/p>\n
The chief minister observed that had Pakistan followed a population growth trajectory similar to Bangladesh since 1971, the country\u2019s population today would have been around 155 million – nearly 100 million less than its current size. \u201cWe must ask ourselves what went wrong and why we failed to acknowledge our mistakes in time,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
Calling population growth a deep-rooted social issue with far-reaching economic consequences, the chief minister recalled that in the 1970s, public awareness campaigns such as \u201cSmall family, prosperous family\u201d were regularly aired on television. \u201cAt that time, there was only PTV, and we grew up hearing these messages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, he lamented that during the martial law period, population control lost priority and family planning campaigns gradually disappeared from public discourse. \u201cOther countries took timely measures, knowing population growth would eventually become an economic burden, but unfortunately, we did not,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Murad Shah said that during General Zia-ul-Haq\u2019s era, family planning was sidelined, though discussions resumed after the restoration of democratic governments and NGOs began playing their role. \u201cDespite these efforts, the impact was still far less than what was required,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n
Highlighting successful initiatives, the chief minister credited Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto\u2019s Lady Health Workers Programme for creating meaningful awareness by taking family planning messages door to door. \u201cThis programme has benefitted communities immensely, yet even today, when compared with other countries, we remain far behind,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
CM Murad Ali Shah rejected the notion that family planning is a religious issue. \u201cThis has been unnecessarily turned into a religious debate, whereas in reality it is not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The CM cited international comparisons, stating that over the last decade, Saudi Arabia\u2019s population growth remained at 1.22 per cent, Iran\u2019s at 0.5 per cent, Iraq\u2019s at 0.54 per cent, and Turkey\u2019s at just 0.12 per cent. He also noted that the United States, with a population of around 310\u2013315 million, has managed its demographic growth despite vast economic demands.<\/p>\n
Referring to Pakistan\u2019s geography, the chief minister pointed out that the country\u2019s land area is approximately 800,000 square kilometres, yet it has failed to develop a sustainable population management programme.<\/p>\n
The ceremony also marked the launch of Pakistan\u2019s largest and most comprehensive Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) campaign on family planning, initiated jointly by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Foundation (MKRF) and Population Council Pakistan. The chief minister expressed hope that such initiatives would help steer the country toward informed decision-making and long-term socio-economic stability.<\/p>\n