On World Contraception Day 2026, Prof. Dr. Syeda Batool Mazhar, Senior Obstetrician & Gynecologist, highlights the low use of contraception, persistent myths and misconceptions, and the importance of informed family planning choices. She emphasizes that greater use of available contraceptive methods can help prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce induced abortions. These methods are available through different public health facilities. Empowering Choices, Improving Lives. #WorldContraceptionDay #WCD2026 #FamilyPlanning #Contraception #ReproductiveHealth

World Contraception Day 2026

Population Council Pakistan, a leading research and development organization working to advance evidence-based solutions in population, health, and development, is organizing a virtual roundtable to mark World Contraception Day 2026. Titled “Revisiting Development as the Best Contraceptive Paradigm,” the session will bring together young voices and experts to discuss Pakistan’s population dynamics, the aspirations and potential of its youth, and the opportunities for harnessing the demographic dividend. 📅 Friday, 25 September 2026 🕒 03:00 PM – 04:00 PM (PKT) 💻 Join Zoom Meeting us06web.zoom.us/j/8584183170… Meeting ID: 858 4183 1703 Passcode: 708811 You are cordially invited to join the conversation.

Today, on World Population Day, we join the global community in marking this year's theme: "Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future." Pakistan's population stands at 241.5 million (2023 Census), making it one of the world's youngest countries. Investing in young people is essential for sustainable development and long-term prosperity. According to the Pakistan@2050 study by @PopCouncilPak and @UNFPAPakistan : • Labour force: 83 million → 150 million by 2050 • Students: 35 million → 60 million • Around 2.6 million new jobs will be needed every year. Realizing Pakistan's demographic dividend requires sustained investments in education, skills, health, including family planning, employment, and social protection. Population is at the heart of sustainable development. #WorldPopulationDay #WPD2026 #DemographicDividend #Pakistan2050

Punjab Health and Population Survey (PHPS) 2024–25 Launched in Lahore The Punjab Health and Population Survey (PHPS) 2024–25 was officially launched in Lahore on March 17, 2026, at a high-level ceremony organized by the Population Council in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics Punjab. Conducted under the National Health Support Program (NHSP), PHPS 2024–25 is a significant step toward evidence-driven governance, supporting improved service delivery and progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Punjab. The event commenced with remarks by Mr. Mumtaz Ahmed, Director, Bureau of Statistics Punjab, who highlighted the importance of reliable data in enabling informed decision-making across the province. Dr. Zeba Sathar (T.I.), Country Director, Population Council, emphasized the need for updated, district-level evidence to better understand evolving health and population challenges and support targeted policy responses. A joint presentation by the Population Council and the Bureau of Statistics Punjab provided insights into health service utilization, family planning trends, and disparities across districts. The Chief Guest, Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar, Member National Assembly and Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab on Population, appreciated the collaborative efforts behind the survey and reaffirmed the Government of Punjab’s commitment to leveraging evidence-based data to strengthen health and population policies. The survey’s findings are expected to play a vital role in shaping policies, strengthening health systems, and improving outcomes across the province. #HealthAndPopulation #PHPS2025 #Punjab #PublicHealth #HPD #DataForDevelopment #UHC #Pakistan

The Population Council, with support from FCDO [@ukinpakistan], launched its study “Unlocking the Stall in Fertility Decline and Socio-Economic Development in Pakistan on December 10, 2025. The study provides critical insights into the real causes of fertility stagnation and the resulting rapid population growth rate. While many countries have reduced their Population Growth Rate (PGR) and achieved significant socio-economic gains, Pakistan continues to lag behind. Key insights and recommendations from the study: 🔹 Fertility in Pakistan is stagnant, driving rapid population increase. 🔹 Weak socio-economic development and social norms are leading to persistently high desired fertility, negatively affecting development prospects. 🔹 Fertility behavior is closely associated with women’s educational levels. To bring population size in balance with resources and ensure people’s well-being, Pakistan must: ✅ Halve child mortality from 65 to 30 deaths per 1,000 births by 2035 ✅ Double the proportion of females with secondary education to 40% by 2035 ✅ Halve poverty levels and reduce inequality through sustainable and inclusive economic growth ✅ Improve access to voluntary, rights-based family planning services, alongside investments in girls’ education and women’s health ✅ Adopt a multi-sectoral approach linking growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and services with progress in health, education, employment creation, poverty reduction, and inequality reduction Dr. John P. M. Bongaarts, Ex–Vice President of the Population Council, said that unless we act now to reduce unmet need and strengthen FP services, Pakistan is on a trajectory of rapid population growth that will adversely impact its development progress. Dr. Zeba Sathar (T.I.), Country Director of the Population Council in Pakistan, emphasized that girls’ education and skills are critical for a transformed economy, improved health outcomes, and enhanced well-being. #PopulationCouncil #FCDO #PakistanPopulation #FertilityStagnation #SocioEconomicDevelopment #FamilyPlanning #WomensEducation #WomensHealth #ChildMortality #PopulationGrowth #PakistanDevelopment #EvidenceToAction

👨‍👩‍👧 Pakistan Population Summit – Key Messages of Day 1 ➡️ The Population Summit 2025 called for urgent, concrete, and evidence-driven actions to bring Pakistan’s population growth rate into alignment with its available resources. Speakers emphasized that without immediate course correction, Pakistan’s ability to develop, prosper, and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will remain severely constrained. The persistently high dependency ratio, they noted, is undermining human capital formation, slowing economic progress, and impeding improvements in key social indicators. ➡️ Experts and policymakers reached a clear consensus: women’s empowerment must lie at the heart of any successful population management strategy. This includes raising women’s literacy levels, narrowing gender disparities in education and employment, and expanding access to quality family planning services to reduce the country’s high unmet need. Participants stressed that unless population management is fully integrated into the national development paradigm, Pakistan risks remaining trapped in a cycle of underdevelopment and poverty. ➡️ A strong call was made for political will and coherent implementation of a comprehensive population policy—one that ensures provincial participation, adopts a multisectoral approach, and is backed by sustained financing. Without such a coordinated national effort, the country will continue to face social instability and potentially cataclysmic consequences stemming from unchecked population growth. ➡️ Dr. Zeba A. Sathar, Country Director of the Population Council, highlighted the grave consequences of inaction: worsening maternal health outcomes, preventable mortality and morbidity, poor educational attainment, and Pakistan’s limited capacity to cope with the mounting impacts of climate change. She emphasized that expanding family planning services and scaling up programs for women’s empowerment are essential to ensuring that “no one is left behind.” She also noted that Pakistan is “clearly out of balance,” with a population growth rate that is double that of its neighbouring countries. ➡️ The Minister of Finance underscored the need for enhanced domestic resource allocation, stressing that Pakistan must expand access to reproductive health and family planning services without relying on external assistance. He also highlighted the importance of preparing the country to harness its demographic dividend, which requires substantial investment in youth skills—particularly in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. ➡️ British High Commissioner Ms. Jane Marriott reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s continued support for Pakistan’s social sector development efforts, describing the partnership as one that is delivering meaningful improvements in the lives of Pakistani citizens. ➡️ Senior economists Dr. Hanid Mukhtar and Vice Chancellor LUMS Dr. Ali Cheema emphasized the critical link between economic revival and a declining population growth rate. Smaller families, they noted, lower the dependency ratio, boost both household and national savings, and free up government resources—allowing a shift from essential infrastructure spending toward broader economic development initiatives. ➡️ Overall, the Summit concluded with a unified message: Pakistan stands at a pivotal moment, and the choices made today will determine whether the country moves toward a stable, prosperous future or remains constrained by demographic pressures. The time for action, participants emphasized, is now. #PopulationSummit2025 #PopulationGrowth #SustainableDevelopment #SDGs #PakistanDevelopment #DemographicTransition #HumanCapital #EconomicGrowth

It is crucial to remember that lowering population growth is not just another need to be catered to – it may well be the key to reducing the pressure and bringing our population and resources in balance. At the Population Summit 2025, stakeholders will have the opportunity to decide: do we take the bold steps forward to restore Tawazun? Or, do we continue to slide back? Writes Dr. Zeba Sathar (T.I.), Country Director Population Council in a special feature published by Dawn on Population Summit 2025. epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.p…

At the launch of the District Vulnerability Index for Pakistan (DVIP), Climate Change (@ClimateChangePK) Minister Dr. Musadiq Malik shared several important insights on how Pakistan can better support its most vulnerable regions. He emphasized the need to reduce regional inequalities by directing more resources toward districts facing the greatest challenges. He noted that the DVIP report provides a clearer understanding of priority areas to support more inclusive and equitable planning. Dr. Musadiq Malik also highlighted that the current NFC formula rewards population growth, and called for a shift toward a model that favors indicators like social-sector progress, poverty reduction, and human development, so that resources reach those who need them the most. Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he stressed the importance of ensuring that every citizen has opportunities for a dignified life, which includes addressing structural gaps, expanding education and health facilities, improving connectivity, and increasing fiscal space where it matters. He further shared the government’s focus on promoting innovative, world-class climate solutions with business and export potential, essential for building climate resilience during a time of fiscal constraints. Adding to the discussion, Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Chief Economist at the Ministry of Planning (@PlanComPakistan), appreciated the DVIP as a valuable tool for guiding development planning, including progress toward the SDGs. He recommended that the DVIP analysis be updated every two years to track improvements, measure change, and ensure planning remains aligned with emerging data and risks. #DVIP #PopulationCouncil #ClimateResilience #RegionalDevelopment #DataForPolicy #SustainablePakistan #InclusivePlanning