- Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir joined population control committee.
- Pakistan, fifth-most populous, tackles growth, security challenges.
- Government identifies limited contraceptives, revenue distribution as issues.
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has been assigned another key responsibility, this time as part of the government’s efforts to address the country’s rapidly growing population.
The announcement was made by Pakistan’s Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal during a Senate meeting earlier this week, according to a report by The Dawn. With a population of more than 259 million, Pakistan is currently the world’s fifth-most populous country and is projected to overtake Indonesia to become the fourth largest by 2030.
Asim Munir Joins Population Control Committee
To tackle the issue, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee that includes Asim Munir.
According to The Dawn, the government has elevated population management to the status of a national priority.
“The government is treating this issue with the highest priority, and important policy decisions are being taken at every level,” Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said.
Appointment Comes Amid Multiple Challenges
Munir’s new role comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with security challenges in Balochistan and along the Afghanistan border. Unrest in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) over economic hardship and allegations of police excesses has also continued.
Earlier this week, 42 Pakistani security personnel were killed in attacks by Baloch rebels and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Balochistan. Tensions have also remained high along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in recent weeks.
Social Media Reacts
The decision to include the army chief in the population control committee drew reactions on social media, with several users responding with satire and criticism.
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Popular Pakistani journalist Asad Toor wrote, “If the government needs their field marshal for population control, it should go home.”
Another social media user remarked, “He successfully reduced population in Kashmir, Balochistan, Muridke, Islamabad.”
Why Is Pakistan Concerned About Population Growth?
According to the health department, one of the major challenges is the limited availability of contraceptives. Pakistan records an average of around 6.7 million births every year. To address the issue, the government plans to provide tax exemptions on contraceptive products.
Another concern relates to the formula used to distribute revenue among provinces. At present, around 80% of resource allocation is based on population, which, according to the health minister, unintentionally encourages higher population growth.
He has proposed reducing that share to below 50%.
However, such a proposal could face resistance from provinces with larger populations.
Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province and the political stronghold of the Sharif family, is also home to key financial institutions and remains central to the country’s political and military establishment. Any change to the revenue-sharing formula could affect the province’s financial allocation.
Population Growth Remains A Key Concern
Pakistan’s annual population growth rate currently stands at 2.55%. Experts have warned that if the trend continues, population growth could outpace the country’s available resources.
For an economy that depends heavily on loans from Gulf countries and international financial institutions, managing population growth has emerged as a major policy challenge.
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