Sherry sounds alarm over ticking population bomb

ISLAMABAD: Senate Committee on Climate Change Chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday warned of ‘ticking time bomb’ as Pakistan’s population predicted is to double by 2050 and called for urgent action on health and resource management at the Population Council event

Chairing the 11th meeting of parliamentary forum on population, organised by Population Council, UNFPA and UKaid, Senator Sherry Rehman delivered a comprehensive keynote highlighting the critical need to address Pakistan’s escalating population crisis, calling it a ‘ticking time bomb’ that demands immediate attention from policymakers and stakeholders across all sectors.

She thanked the Population Council for its longstanding advocacy and championing of population issues, as well as the parliamentarians in attendance, representing every province and political party. “It’s encouraging to see that this is a cross-cutting issue, and that representatives from every province and political party are here today,” she said.

She said that population is not just a provincial issue, nor should it be seen through a partisan lens. “It is a national issue, and politics needs to mobilise around it.”

She asserted that population dynamics are closely tied to the country’s resources and development, making it essential for every political actor to work together, avoiding partisan divisions.

Sherry Rehman highlighted Pakistan’s urgent need to integrate population management with health policy, pointing out the success story of Sindh, where population planning is effectively integrated with health services. “I’m proud to say that in Sindh, we have managed to integrate population issues with health, but this needs to happen across all provinces. This crisis is too big to be ignored until it spirals out of control,” she said.

Referring to Pakistan as the fifth most populous country in the world, Sherry Rehman laid out stark realities: “By 2050, we will reach a population exceeding 400 million. Our resources are finite, yet the population keeps growing. How will we provide jobs for millions of children who will enter the labor market? How will we lower maternal mortality when healthcare services are already stretched thin?” she asked, stressing that Pakistan’s ability to meet even basic needs, such as clean drinking water and education, is severely compromised.”

She said that Pakistan has 26 million children out of school, a staggering number that reflects the broader strain population growth has placed on infrastructure and social services. “Our human capital is at risk. Education is the foundation of any society, and with 26 million children out of school, we are far from reaching our targets. We need to act now before this crisis worsens,” she urged.

She also raised the alarm on Pakistan’s water scarcity, pointing out that the country is among the most water-stressed nations globally. “Pakistan ranks third in the world among countries facing acute water shortages, as our population grows, fewer and fewer people will have access to clean drinking water,” she remarked, calling for a holistic approach that includes private-public partnerships to tackle the scale of the crisis.

She said Population growth cannot be tackled by the public sector alone. “We need to engage the private sector, and together, look for innovative solutions. Public-private partnerships are key to managing this challenge.”

Sherry Rehman stressed the need for increasing resources, enhancing awareness, and scaling up successful programmes like the Lady Health Worker (LHW) initiative, originally launched by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in 1994. “The LHW programme has been globally acknowledged as a gold standard for reproductive health by the World Bank,” she said.

She highlighted the crucial role of family planning in improving maternal and child health outcomes. “An educated mother, who has access to family planning, will make better decisions for her children’s future and her own well-being.”

She called for a renewed commitment to scaling up the LHW programme, urging policymakers to provide better financial support and contractual stability for these frontline workers, who are often also tasked with handling polio eradication and other public health campaigns. “They are the backbone of our healthcare system in many parts of the country. It’s time we acknowledge their indispensable role and invest in them,” she added.

Rehman also called for a stronger media and communication strategy to address population issues, advocating for greater public awareness through coordinated campaigns. “Pemra mandates that 10 percent of airtime should be devoted by channels to public awareness campaigns, but are we really using this space effectively? We need to engage media, civil society, and private companies to launch aggressive campaigns that resonate with the public.”

She concluded by urging all stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and into action, proposing a resolution to integrate population with health policy and ensure dedicated resources for the issue.

The event brought together parliamentarians, representatives from the private sector, and civil society organisations, all of whom agreed that Pakistan’s population growth must be addressed with urgency and innovation.