Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who already plays a key role beyond military affairs, has now been assigned another major responsibility, helping address the country’s rapidly growing population.
According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal made the announcement during a Senate session earlier this week. He said Pakistan’s population has crossed 259 million (25.9 crore), making it the world’s fifth-most populous country. He also warned that if current trends continue, Pakistan is expected to overtake Indonesia by 2030.
For a country already facing severe economic challenges, the government views the rising population as a matter of serious concern.
Population growth declared a national priority
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee to address the issue of population growth, with Asim Munir included among its members.
The government has identified population control as a national priority and is working on policy measures at different levels to deal with the challenge.
Munir has been given this responsibility at a time when Pakistan is already facing security challenges on multiple fronts, including in Balochistan and along the Afghanistan border.
Security challenges continue alongside new role
Pakistan has witnessed continued unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while violence in Balochistan remains a major concern. Recently, 42 Pakistani security personnel were reportedly killed in attacks carried out by Baloch insurgents and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
Following reports of Munir’s inclusion in the population committee, many social media users in Pakistan reacted with humour, sharing memes about the army chief’s new assignment.
Why is Pakistan’s population growing rapidly?
One of the major reasons behind Pakistan’s rising population is the limited availability of contraceptives, making family planning difficult for many people.
According to the report, around 6.7 million children are born in Pakistan every year, contributing to the country’s rapid population growth.
