ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan heads into 2026 with a population exceeding 225 million, ranking as the world’s fifth-most populous country, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that rapid population growth, high fertility rates, persistent gender inequality, and growing climate vulnerability are intensifying development pressures.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, UNFPA Pakistan emphasized that population should not be viewed as a burden but as a potential driver of sustainable and inclusive development if managed through informed and forward-looking policies. Looking ahead to 2026, the agency called for a fundamental shift in how population factors are incorporated into national planning and financing frameworks, particularly the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula.
Rather than relying primarily on population size, UNFPA urged the adoption of an approach that rewards provinces for measurable progress in gender equality, climate resilience, balanced population outcomes, and improvements in the quality of health and education services.
Such reforms, the agency noted, would better align fiscal incentives with human development outcomes, promote innovation and accountability, and help translate population policies into meaningful benefits for communities. UNFPA also stressed the importance of implementing the Council of Common Interests’ recommendations through clear accountability mechanisms, defined timelines, and sustained domestic financing, supported by robust population data and evidence-based planning. Despite some progress, significant challenges persist. High maternal mortality, unmet needs for family planning, early marriages, gender-based violence, and unequal access to quality reproductive health services—especially in remote areas—continue to hinder development. These issues, UNFPA said, are closely linked to stalled fertility decline and uneven socio-economic outcomes across the country.
