DID Press: Pakistan’s Health Minister has warned that rapid population growth could push the country’s infrastructure into a severe crisis.
Mustafa Kamal, Pakistan’s Health Minister, issued an emergency statement highlighting the uncontrolled population increase, noting that if current growth rates continue, Pakistan will surpass Indonesia within the next five years and become the world’s fourth most populous country.
He added that Pakistan’s population grows by roughly 6.2 million people annually—exceeding the total population of countries such as New Zealand.
Kamal emphasized that this trend could place extreme pressure on healthcare, education, and employment systems, threatening the country’s prospects for sustainable development.
He further stated that reducing the fertility rate from 3.6 to 2.0 is essential to prevent the collapse of national infrastructure and suggested that Pakistan could learn from successful population management strategies implemented in countries like Iran and Indonesia.
The Ministry of Finance has also pledged to allocate the necessary budget to implement population control programs, ensuring that fertility reduction initiatives are effectively executed.
The Health Minister stressed that urgent action in this area is crucial to safeguarding national resources and ensuring sustainable development for Pakistan.