LAHORE – Health experts, civil society members and families gathered at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) on Tuesday for the Educational Family Planning Mela 2025, where speakers cautioned that Pakistan’s rapid population growth was placing unsustainable pressure on national resources and public services.
Organised by the Punjab Health and Population Department in collaboration with the Marie Stopes Society, the event was held under the theme “Balanced Family, Prosperous Pakistan and Our Collective Responsibilities.” The mela aimed to raise awareness about family planning and reproductive health while providing free medical services and counselling.
Trained health staff offered information on permanent family planning methods, long-acting reversible contraceptives and other reproductive health facilities. Free medical procedures and medicines were provided, alongside cultural performances and local music to engage participants.
Chief Editor of Daily Pakistan Mujeeb Ur Rahman Shami, District Population Welfare Officer Mazhar Iqbal inaugurated the event. Addressing the gathering, Shami said Pakistan’s population growth had reached a critical stage, straining sectors such as education, healthcare and social services. He stressed that sustainable development was not possible without maintaining a balanced population and urged collective action from government, civil society and the public. He also praised the efforts of the Health and Population Department and the Marie Stopes Society, calling for stronger government and donor support.
District Population Welfare Officer Mazhar Iqbal noted that the global population had surpassed 8 billion while resources were becoming increasingly limited. He said aligning population growth with available resources was essential for Pakistan’s long-term development. He added that the department was engaging religious scholars, teachers, media professionals and youth to spread awareness, with a special focus on maternal and child health.
Marie Stopes Society Regional Manager Aamir Yousaf said Pakistan ranked fifth globally in population despite limited resources to meet basic needs such as clean drinking water, healthcare and education. Citing a report, he said one woman dies every 50 minutes in Pakistan due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, underscoring the importance of birth spacing to reduce maternal mortality. He added that the organisation had been working on reproductive health in Pakistan since 1990 and expressed hope that effective population management could improve the country’s Human Development Index ranking.
