Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has been given another key responsibility, this time to help address the country’s rapidly growing population. The move comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif constituted a high-level committee to formulate policies aimed at slowing population growth.
According to Dawn, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal informed the Senate that the government has elevated population control to a national priority. Munir has been included in the committee, reflecting the military’s continued influence over major policy decisions beyond defence.
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Pakistan, with a population exceeding 259 million, is currently the world’s fifth-most populous country and is projected to overtake Indonesia by 2030 to become the fourth largest. Officials have warned that unchecked population growth could put immense pressure on the country’s already strained economy.
The committee’s formation comes as Pakistan grapples with multiple challenges, including security concerns in Balochistan and along the Afghanistan border, alongside economic instability and rising public unrest.
The announcement triggered mixed reactions on social media, with many users questioning why the army chief had been assigned a role traditionally handled by civilian institutions. Critics and commentators mocked the decision, arguing it reflected the military’s expanding influence over governance.
The government has identified limited access to contraceptives as one of the major factors behind the country’s high birth rate of nearly 6.7 million annually. It is considering tax exemptions on contraceptive products to improve accessibility.
Officials are also reviewing the formula for distributing federal revenue to provinces, as nearly 80% of allocations are currently linked to population size. The government believes this may inadvertently encourage higher population growth. However, any change to the formula could face resistance from larger provinces such as Punjab.
Experts have warned that Pakistan’s annual population growth rate of 2.55% could outpace available resources if corrective measures are not implemented.
