According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Pakistan will have more than 225 million people by 2026, making it the fifth most populous nation in the world.
UNFPA stated in a statement that the country’s demographic outlook is being shaped by population growth, fertility rates, gender disparity, and climate vulnerability, putting further strain on planning and governance systems. According to the organization, population dynamics has become a key policy concern as a result of these causes.
Population should be seen as a development factor rather than a burden, according to UNFPA Pakistan, emphasizing its role in inclusive and sustainable outcomes. According to the organization, as Pakistan approaches 2026, planning frameworks need to change to reflect this strategy.
The National Finance Commission (NFC) formula and other national planning and finance mechanisms should interpret demographic statistics differently, according to the agency’s demands. It said that the distribution of resources among provinces should no longer be primarily determined by population size.
According to UNFPA, these adjustments would promote accountability across provinces and match financial incentives with human development outcomes. It further stated that tying funding to quantifiable results would promote service delivery innovation and enable population policies to be implemented at the local level.
“A forward-looking approach should reward provinces for measurable progress in gender equality, climate resilience, balanced population outcomes, and improvements in the quality of health and education services,” the statement said.
According to UNFPA, these adjustments would promote accountability across provinces and match financial incentives with human development outcomes. It further stated that tying funding to quantifiable results would promote service delivery innovation and enable population policies to be implemented at the local level.
The Council of Common Interests’ suggestions, which called for accountability systems, clear deadlines, and ongoing domestic funding, were also recommended to be implemented by the UNFPA. It stated that population statistics and evidence-based planning were required to support these actions.
While acknowledging progress in some areas, UNFPA said several population-related challenges remain unresolved. These include maternal mortality, unmet demand for family planning, early marriages, gender-based violence and unequal access to reproductive health services.
The statement noted that these issues are more visible in remote communities and are connected to stalled fertility decline and uneven development outcomes.