Professor Dr Mahtab Syed Karim, president of the Population Association of Pakistan, warned at a press briefing in Islamabad that population growth is the country’s most pressing challenge. Speaking alongside Dr Saima Bashir at the National Press Club, he projected that if current trends continue Pakistan’s population could reach 370 million by 2050, a surge that would trigger severe food shortages and strain national resources.
The Population Association is organising a two-day conference to raise public awareness and bring experts together to examine the social, economic and health impacts of population growth. Delegates at the event will present research, outline policy options and aim to brief government officials so that coordinated national measures can be pursued.
Speakers highlighted that Pakistan currently records one of the highest birth rates in the region, about 2.5 percent annually, while other countries have controlled growth through effective policies. They stressed that addressing the issue requires collective national effort rather than isolated initiatives and that public education is central to any strategy.
Religious concerns around family planning were addressed directly, with the speakers noting that mainstream Islamic scholars do not prohibit family planning and that imams and mosque leaders should be educated to support community awareness. They argued that managing population growth is essential not only to prevent food shortages but also to ensure children receive quality education and health care and to reduce pressure on employment, which can help curb rising crime linked to economic strain.
Organisers urged policymakers, community leaders and civil society to treat population growth as a national priority and to support the conference’s recommendations for sustainable family planning, public education and policy coordination to protect Pakistan’s future food security and public services.
