ISLAMABAD: The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called upon heads of all political parties to fulfill their commitments outlined in their manifestoes regarding sustainable population growth and discuss them in their first address in the National Assembly after formation of government.

They said unwavering political commitment was critical for creating a balance between population and available resources to ensure Pakistan’s socio-economic development. They said while most countries in the region, with the exception of Afghanistan, have experienced sharp declines in fertility and a slowing of population growth rates, Pakistan lagged behind with double the rates in the region.

This was discussed during the coalition meeting organised by the Population Council with the support of UNFPA in Islamabad.

In his welcome remarks, Director Programmes, Population Council Dr Ali Mir Senior said: “Rapid population growth in Pakistan is tied to all aspects of the country’s development and has contributed directly to our economic and political challenges. Strong political resolve is imperative to achieving balance between population and resources, which has been reflected in manifestos of all major political parties of the country”.

Presenting the qualitative analysis of the manifesto commitments of leading political parties regarding population management, Samia Ali Shah, Project Director, Population Council, said: “All political parties should convert their respective population management commitments into policies and ensure their implementation.”

She also urged Civil Society Organisations to play their role in monitoring the implementation of the commitment and making them accountable for their own commitments. “Political commitment can only be materialised if the head of government includes population management as the top priority during first address to the nation and the taskforce on population is convened at the earliest and chaired by the Prime Minister,” she added.

In his closing statement, Dr Jamil Ahmed, Programme Specialist at UNFPA, urged the CSOs to exert pressure on provincial governments to ensure accountability for fulfilling both national and international commitments within their respective provinces, particularly regarding the implementation of their manifesto pledges.

Reiterating their commitments by holding political parties to their commitments, the coalition emphasised the need for political parties to emulate the examples set by neighbouring Muslim countries, where political determination played a pivotal role in achieving sustainable population growth.

The coalition also called for targeted initiatives to address the unmet needs of marginalised women, along with increased involvement of the private sector in family planning services, underscoring the importance of provincial governments ensuring the consistent supply of contraceptives.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2024