Mustafa Kamal Warns of Resource Crash If Population Is Not Controlled
Key takeaways
- He also proposed sweeping measures to defuse what he called an “ever-increasing population bomb,” ARY News reported.
- Addressing the National Assembly today, the Minister pointed out that Pakistan’s regional neighbors—including Iran, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—have successfully halted their population surges.
- To address the root cause, Kamal recommended a gradual overhaul of the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula, which currently allocates 82 percent of provincial funds based on population size.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has stressed the urgent need to control the country’s population growth, noting that complications related to high birth rates claim the lives of nearly 11,000 mothers annually. He also proposed sweeping measures to defuse what he called an “ever-increasing population bomb,” ARY News reported.
Addressing the National Assembly today, the Minister pointed out that Pakistan’s regional neighbors—including Iran, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—have successfully halted their population surges. In contrast, Pakistan is facing severe developmental crises, with as many as 40 percent of its children suffering from stunted growth.
To address the root cause, Kamal recommended a gradual overhaul of the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula, which currently allocates 82 percent of provincial funds based on population size. He proposed initially reducing this population weight to 50 percent and introducing a 32 percent “reverse incentive”—meaning provinces that successfully work to reduce their population growth will receive greater financial support.