With country’s population expanding at an alarming pace, the strain on already limited national resources is becoming increasingly visible with Pakistan’s population exceeding 255 million, the challenge is no longer statistical; it is visible in every overcrowded classroom, every congested road, Restaurants and every job queue, education and healthcare to housing, employment, transport and water supply, nearly every sector is under immense pressure. infrastructure is struggling to cope with the influx of people migrating from rural areas. If this trend remains unchecked, it could significantly undermine Pakistan’s long-term economic and social progress.
Beyond education, social customs also play a decisive role in determining family size. While traditional family planning campaigns and awareness drives remain important, Pakistan now requires more innovative and out-of-the-box solutions that are both socially acceptable and economically effective. One of the most practical approaches is the introduction of an incentive-based two-child policy instead of coercive or punitive measures. Rather than imposing legal restrictions, the government should encourage smaller family sizes through positive economic incentives. Families with one or two children could be given priority in government housing schemes, utility subsidies, educational scholarships and social welfare benefits. Such a policy would shape public behavior through financial motivation and avoid the resistance that often accompanies compulsory measures.
Another transformative and long-term solution lies in making female education the cornerstone of population policy. Global evidence consistently shows that higher levels of female literacy lead to smaller and healthier families. Educated women are more likely to marry later, understand reproductive health and make informed decisions regarding family size. Therefore, Pakistan must ensure free and compulsory education for girls at least up to higher secondary level, particularly in rural and undeveloped regions. Therefore, Pakistan needs to take care of 30 million out-of-school children, mostly girls.
Closely linked to this is the urgent need to discourage early marriages, which remain a major cause of high fertility rates in many parts of Pakistan. In rural areas especially, early marriage extends the reproductive span of women and often results in larger families. Strict enforcement of the legal age of marriage is essential. At the same time, awareness campaigns should highlight the economic, educational and health benefits of delayed marriage. A highly innovative policy intervention would be to link marriage registration with mandatory counselling sessions for newlywed couples on maternal health, family planning and household financial management.
A truly out-of-the-box solution for Pakistan lies in engaging religious leadership in population awareness efforts. If renowned Ulema and scholars publicly endorse the concepts of birth spacing, maternal health and responsible parenting, public acceptance can improve significantly. Social media Friday sermons, television discussions, television dramas and radio broadcasts can be used to promote the message of “small family, prosperous future.”
Equally important is the strengthening of Pakistan’s existing Lady Health Worker network, which already serves as an effective grassroots structure. These workers can play a vital role in door-to-door awareness campaigns, particularly in remote and underserved communities. Their responsibilities should include counselling women on birth spacing, maternal health, child nutrition and access to contraceptive services. Because they belong to local communities, their advice is often received with greater trust and acceptance.
Another unconventional yet highly effective approach is to link population control with poverty alleviation programs. In many low-income households, especially in agrarian communities, larger family size is often perceived as a source of economic support and labour. Therefore, the government must address the economic reasons behind high birth rates. Families opting for smaller households should receive targeted financial assistance, vocational training opportunities and social protection benefits. Once economic insecurity declines, the perceived need for larger families also diminishes.
Pakistan must also view its population challenge through the lens of employment and economic opportunity. A large youth population can either become a demographic dividend or a demographic disaster. The difference depends entirely on whether the economy can productively absorb this workforce. Investment in skill development, technical education, IT freelancing, entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises is, therefore, essential. When young people are economically engaged and future-oriented, fertility rates often decline naturally as priorities shift toward career growth and financial stability.
Furthermore, digital innovation offers a modern and cost-effective solution. Given the widespread use of mobile phones across Pakistan, the government can launch a national digital awareness campaign through SMS services and mobile applications. Regular messages related to maternal health, child welfare, birth spacing and family planning can reach millions of households at minimal cost. Such technological interventions can effectively bridge the gap between policymaking and public outreach.
In conclusion, controlling overpopulation in Pakistan requires a multidimensional and innovative strategy. It must not be treated merely as a health issue; rather, it should be addressed as a national development agenda involving education, economy, healthcare, religion and technology. Incentive-based small family policies, female education, counselling for newlywed couples, delayed marriages, community health outreach and economic empowerment together can help Pakistan move toward sustainable population growth. The need of the hour is bold policymaking backed by strong political will and broad social consensus. If addressed wisely, Pakistan’s population challenge can be transformed from a burden into a demographic strength that fuels national growth and prosperity.
—The writer is former Executive Director, National Institute of Population Studies, Islamabad.
