Not Condoms, Not Doctors Or Education: Why Pakistan Is Banking On Army Chief To Curb Its Fastest-Growing Population

Pakistan's population crisis has reached a stage where conventional solutions, family planning campaigns, better healthcare and public awareness drives have failed to produce the desired results. With the country adding millions of people every year and its population crossing 255 million, Islamabad is now turning to an unlikely institution: the military.

In a move that has sparked debate, Pakistan has increasingly involved the armed forces in national population welfare initiatives, with Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir lending his support to campaigns aimed at slowing population growth, according to an article published in Dawn on July 10. The decision reflects not just the severity of Pakistan's demographic challenge but also the extraordinary influence the military enjoys over the country's governance.
“The government is treating this issue with the highest priority and important policy decisions are being taken at every level,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday. The minister said population management required both government action and public participation.

Pakistan population goes out of control

Pakistan has one of South Asia's highest fertility rates, significantly outpacing neighbouring countries such as India, Bangladesh and Iran, all of which have seen sharper declines in population growth through sustained investments in education, women's empowerment and access to reproductive healthcare.

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According to PM Sharif, one factor contributing to high birth rates had been the limited availability of contraceptives, adding that tax exemptions had now been granted on contraceptive products. He said Pakistan records around 6.7 million births annually and estimated that wider access to family planning could reduce annual population growth by about 1.5 million people.

What experts say

Experts have long argued that the biggest obstacles to family planning in Pakistan are not the lack of contraceptives but deep-rooted social norms, low female literacy, child marriage, poverty and limited healthcare access. In many rural areas, discussions around contraception remain taboo, while misinformation and religious misconceptions continue to discourage its use.

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Against this backdrop, the military's involvement appears to be an attempt to give the campaign greater administrative reach and public visibility. The armed forces remain one of Pakistan's most trusted state institutions and possess an extensive nationwide network capable of supporting large-scale awareness programmes.

Will Pakistan Army succed in controling population?

However, critics question whether the military is the right institution to address what is fundamentally a public health and socio-economic issue. They argue that sustainable population control cannot be achieved through institutional authority alone.

Lasting demographic change depends on expanding girls' education, increasing women's participation in the workforce, improving maternal healthcare, ensuring easy access to modern contraceptives and building trust through community-based health workers.

Why Pakistan can't afford a population boom

The timing is also significant. Pakistan is grappling with soaring inflation, water shortages, unemployment and mounting pressure on housing, education and healthcare systems. Rapid population growth has amplified these challenges, making demographic management an economic necessity rather than merely a social objective.

Whether the military's involvement produces measurable results remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Pakistan's population crisis has become so pressing that the government is relying on its most powerful institution to amplify a message that doctors, educators and policymakers have struggled to deliver for decades. Ultimately, without comprehensive reforms addressing education, healthcare and women's empowerment, military-backed campaigns alone are unlikely to reverse the country's demographic trajectory.

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