Despite a well-defined roadmap and policies, Pakistan, the fifth most populous nation globally, is ensnared in a relentless population surge that defies control. This unchecked growth threatens to overwhelm resources and destabilize the economy, making it imperative to urgently implement robust population management strategies to avert a looming crisis.

Despite having a comprehensive roadmap and a policy on birth control, Pakistan continues to grapple with the issue of population explosion. It is the world's fifth most populous country, teeming with over 241 million people. Due to unplanned population growth, it faces many socioeconomic difficulties, resource depletion, unplanned urbanization, growing unemployment, and climate change, among many others.

According to the 7th Population Census by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan's population growth rate of 2.5 percent has been deemed the highest in the region and the world. 

The exponential increase in population is negatively impacting the average citizen's income and standard of living. Existing population management and new plans must be implemented to improve resource allocation and promote economic growth.

Future Projections
According to the 7th Population Census by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan's population growth rate of 2.5 percent has been deemed the highest in the region and the world. What is truly alarming is that this statistic is expected to double by 2050. The research shows a notable population increase from 207.68 million to 241.49 million in 2023 after the 2017 census. It emphasizes that if current trends continue, Pakistan's population might reach an astounding number by the middle of the century.
Pakistan's population is expected to climb to 403 million by 2050, increasing by one child every eight seconds, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) projection from 2019. Rapid fertility, low mortality rates, young marriages, impoverishment, low socioeconomic status for women, illiteracy, cultural beliefs, habits, and infrequent use of contraception are some of the factors contributing to growing populations. In addition, the government's inability to enforce family planning laws is one of the factors fueling the rapid population growth.

Pakistan's population is expected to climb to 403 million by 2050, increasing by one child every eight seconds, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) projection from 2019.

Impacts of Exponential Population Growth
This alarming population growth not only burdens the nation's resources and infrastructure but also poses a significant obstacle to long-term economic growth as the demand for these resources outpaces supply. Furthermore, the lack of clean drinking water and food insecurity endanger public health, leading to the spread of illness and a decline in productivity. The increasing demand for food, water, and energy sources significantly strains the nation's resources, making sustainable development an elusive goal.
To make matters worse, Pakistan has serious environmental problems, much like most developing countries, and population growth adds fuel to the fire. The country's rising population and increased demand for industrial development have put enormous strain on the state's supply of natural resources. As a result, carbon emissions and pollution levels have risen, threatening the survival of already vulnerable communities. The fast growth of manufacturing output and urbanization, which has raised solid and industrial waste levels, water pollution and vehicle emissions, has resulted in serious health problems nationwide. 
Additionally, rapid population growth is strongly associated with poverty. This means that continued population increase would result in fewer employment opportunities and heightened poverty. It is a vicious cycle that cannot be broken without education and civic awareness about the negative impacts of large family sizes and their socioeconomic consequences.
Population Control Initiatives
The World Bank Indicator 2021 report said that around 1971, the populations of West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) were about equal, at around 59 million and 65 million, respectively. Soon after 1971, Bangladesh effectively established family planning programs, and the country's population stood at 171.46 million in 2023. Pakistan's population grew by 430 percent in the five decades between 1950 and 2001 and stood at 241.49 million in 2023.

The fast growth of manufacturing output and urbanization, which has raised solid and industrial waste levels, water pollution and vehicle emissions, has resulted in serious health problems nationwide. 

However, after the dissolution of the Ministry of Population Welfare post-18th Amendment, the Punjab provincial assembly too realized that it must work around its growing population problem. Subsequently, it came up with its first Population Policy in January 2017. Punjab holds the vision of a literate, successful, and vibrant community in which every family has been planned, every individual is cared for, and every person has an equal chance of improving the standard of their life. The following steps were taken to control the population by the Punjab Population Welfare Department:
▪  Provide contraception to clients at no cost.
▪  Expand family welfare centres to the level of union councils.
▪ Renovate and reactivate mobile service units to provide family planning services to those living in remote areas.
▪ Launch focused social media campaigns in partnership with the health department.
▪  Develop a joint referral system for family planning clients through outreach workers in partnership with the health department.
▪   Provide missing facilities at family health clinics and family welfare centres.
▪  Build family health clinics and establish adolescent health centres.
▪  Creation of a helpline and toll-free number for family planning and birth control counseling.
▪ An email consultation facility for family planning-related issues.
▪ Public outreach through social media pages like Facebook, among other initiatives.
Similarly, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Population Welfare Government put forth its population policy in 2015, which still needs enforcement. It included the following provisions:
▪  Increase the proportion of people using contraception from 28 percent in 2012-2013 to 55 percent by 2032. 
▪ Achieve replacement level fertility (2.1 births per woman) by 2032 and reduce the overall fertility rate from 3.9 in 2012-2013 to 3.3 by 2020. 
▪ Decrease the annual population growth rate to 1.3 percent by 2032 from 2.2 percent in 2013.
▪ Encourage more funding to accelerate female empowerment and education to help achieve population sector-related goals. 
Although the provincial assemblies have set ambitious targets to control the spiraling issue of unequal resources to the population issue, it still exists only on paper. Issues such as industrialization and infrastructure often take the major chunk during budgetary allocation, while funding for population control programs remains on the back burner. It is high time to recognize the far-reaching impacts of overpopulation in Pakistan and implement existing population control and family planning programs across the country. Pakistan desperately needs to raise civic awareness about the urgency of controlling population size and promoting birth control. 
With existential issues such as water and food insecurity, terrorism and climate change looming large, it is high time Pakistan stepped up its game in terms of civic awareness campaigns and education. While one-third of Pakistan's children, aged five to sixteen, remain out of school, illiteracy remains high. Consequently, it hampers access to critical information regarding birth control and the disadvantages of unplanned pregnancies and early marriages. Not only does the culture of large families follow, but also the cycle of poverty perpetuates. 
John C. Caldwell linked overpopulation and high fertility rates to the Global South and developing countries. His study, 'The Cultural Context of High Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa,' originally published in 1987, found that certain socioeconomic conditions often support high fertility. Recognizing women's socioeconomic status is also necessary to understand the fertility trend. In developing countries like Pakistan, which has a fertility rate of 3.14 births per woman compared to Africa's 4.1 births per woman, the causes of high fertility rates remain similar, such as illiteracy and resulting weak socioeconomic conditions.

The fast growth of manufacturing output and urbanization, which has raised solid and industrial waste levels, water pollution and vehicle emissions, has resulted in serious health problems nationwide. 

In his study, John C. Caldwell noted another finding that women's socioeconomic status is also necessary to comprehend the fertility trend. Women who were financially dependent and did not have access to resources ended up having higher birth rates than women who enjoyed better socioeconomic conditions. Pakistan, too, must work to raise civic awareness amongst the 117.10 million women out of the total 241.49 million Pakistanis. 

Additionally, to raise civic awareness regarding the issue of overpopulation in the masses, workshops and seminars must be held in colleges and universities to disseminate knowledge regarding the detriment of early marriages, unplanned pregnancies and large families. Furthermore, in this age of technology, Pakistan must use TV to broadcast messages of public awareness. People must be made aware of the use of contraceptives and birth control options. Pakistan must use social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) to post reels, videos, shorts and catchy infographics that illustrate the problems associated with population growth. 
Moreover, with social media influencers growing daily, they must be taken on board to help the message reach more people. We must also integrate the socioeconomic benefits of family planning and population control in our movies and dramas. Pakistan's cultural norms might take decades to change otherwise. Furthermore, there is a need for targeted campaigns in rural areas where access to information and literacy rates are low, women are financially dependent, and the impact of cultural and religious norms is dominant. Messages should be broadcast via radio, and women volunteer teams must be sent to far-off areas to disseminate information regarding contraceptives and their proper use. 
Provincial and national governments must act decisively, individually and collectively, to raise civic awareness and address the problem of overpopulation. It is imperative for the educated masses to understand that they are equally responsible for resolving this looming crisis. 

The writer holds an MPhil degree in International Relations from National Defense University, Islamabad. 
E-mail: [email protected]

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