Pakistan’s population planning system has come under serious criticism after a Senate committee expressed concern over the absence of updated population data, warning that outdated information could damage government planning and decision making.
The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives questioned why the country’s latest population and health information was still based on the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2017 and 2018, despite the survey being planned every five years.
The committee said that without fresh population data, it becomes difficult for the government to properly plan healthcare services, allocate resources and create policies according to people’s needs.
The issue was discussed during a meeting chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri at Parliament House, Islamabad, where the committee reviewed the implementation of the National Action Plan on Population 2021 to 2026.
Officials from the Ministry of National Health Services informed the committee that the population action plan was approved in May 2021 with a total cost of Rs1,996.683 million. The project covers areas including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The committee was informed that a major portion of the project budget, around Rs1,679.6 million, has been allocated for purchasing contraceptives. Officials said these contraceptives are being imported for population welfare programmes.
For the financial year 2026 and 2027, Rs250 million has been allocated mainly for awareness campaigns and procurement of contraceptives. However, the committee questioned the effectiveness of these efforts and demanded complete details on resource allocation and the number of beneficiaries.
Senator Quratulain Marri expressed concern that the Ministry’s briefing did not fully answer the questions raised by the committee. She directed the ministry to provide a detailed presentation in the next meeting covering the purchase, distribution, usage and challenges related to contraceptives.
The chairperson said that population planning decisions must be based on accurate and updated information. She questioned why the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics had not completed the population and health survey within the expected timeframe.
Officials informed the committee that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics is currently conducting the next survey to update population and health indicators for the period up to 2025 and 2026.
The committee said delays in collecting population data create serious problems because the government cannot accurately estimate the needs of hospitals, schools, employment opportunities and public services.
Members stressed that a growing population requires proper planning to ensure that citizens receive enough healthcare, education and basic facilities. The committee reviewed the National Action Plan on Population as part of wider discussions about Pakistan’s future development challenges.
Lawmakers said population growth is directly connected with economic pressure, healthcare demand and availability of public resources. The committee directed officials to improve monitoring and provide clearer information about the progress of population related programmes.
Senator Quratulain Marri emphasized that government projects must deliver real results and that public money should be used effectively. The committee decided to continue reviewing the population action plan in future meetings and seek further details from relevant departments.
