![]() |
||
Population planning has been a regular feature of periodic-five-year National Development Plans of Pakistan since 1955. Although Pakistan has one of the oldest family planning programmes in the region yet, strategic disconnects between informed population policies and planning, and socio-economic development has resulted in limited progress not only towards lowering the fertility rates, but also in improving the contraceptive prevalence rates, resulting in a sluggish demographic transition. In line with the 18th Amendment, the Federal Ministry of Population Welfare was dissolved and the Population Welfare Programme was devolved to the provinces in 2010. Consequently, a Population Programme Wing (PPW) was established that initially functioned under the auspices of the Planning and Development Division (PDD), and in 2013 was shifted to the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination. | ![]() |
|
DR. Shabana Saleem, DG POPULATION |
||
Mandate of PPW
|
||
Current Population SituationWith an estimated 221 million people, Pakistan has the fifth largest population globally, fourth largest in Asia and second largest among the Muslim countries . The demographic profile of Pakistan shows an inter-censual growth rate of 2.4 percent, a fertility rate of 3.6 children per woman and a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 25 percent which happens to be one of the lowest in South Asia |
||
National Narrative on Population Growth1. Rights |
||
National Action PlanThe NAP spells out the actions required to implement each of the CCI Recommendation with timelines, budget, output /impact indicators as an evidence to the implementation. The NAP focuses on the following key areas; governance and accountability; ensure universal access to FP/RH services; finances; legislation; advocacy and communications, curriculum and training; contraceptive commodity security and involving Ulema. |
||
Pakistan FP 2030 CommitmentTaking another step forward, the FP2030 vision was conceived to build on the progress made, learn from the lessons learned and accelerate progress towards meeting the family planning, SRH and health indicators. As a member of the global family planning community and a signatory to FP commitments, Pakistan is also working strenuously to redefine its population programmes by strengthening its collaborative partnership networks, increased resource mobilization, improved governance and oversight. The CCI has approved the recommendations and targets of the National and Provincial Task Forces, and costed implementation plans have been developed to set the process rolling. The FP/RH transformative vision of “three zeros by 2030” was introduced. |
||
SDG Related to PopulationThe SDGs Units work closely with all relevant partners and stakeholders to determine development priorities based on local, regional and provincial needs, to review the data management systems and to identify the resource needs to meet the SDGs targets. |
||
Council of Common Interests (CCI) RecomendationsThe CCI recommendations defined targets for three key population indicators namely: contraceptive prevalence rate, total fertility rate and population growth rate. It emphasized the need to strengthen family planning programmes with a focus on voluntary family planning, quality of care, meeting the unmet needs (contraceptive, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health) of adolescent girls and women. Following are the CCI Recommendations:
|
||
Country Engagement Working Group (CEWG)Country Engagement Working Group (CEWG) was constituted in 2016 to review and steer the efforts of the stakeholders working in family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) to achieve the commitments made by Pakistan at the London Summit (2012) on FP. Following are the TORs of CEWG.
|
||
Federal and Provincial Task Forces for PopulationWith the President of Pakistan as its chair, the Federal Task Force comprises of Provincial and Regional Chief Ministers, Provincial and Regional Chief Secretaries, and key Federal Ministers in addition to relevant officials. The FTF in pursuance of the CCI Recommendations is responsible for taking the FP/RH agenda forward and operates with the clear terms of reference. A series of steps including enacting laws to restrain early/ childhood marriages, decentralization of family planning and reproductive health services to the local governments, strengthening the family planning programme and network through a public-private mix approach, resource mobilization, linking population programmes with social security and safety nets, promoting health literacy and engaging with key stakeholders and influencers were proposed. Following are TORs of FTF.
|
||
Universal Health1. RMNCHGovernment of Pakistan Mo NHSRC gives high priority to RMNCAH and envisages that Mother and child safety through quality of care should be a major priority while planning healthcare interventions. The international best practices are replicated in Pakistan to achieve better results. Mo NHSRC engage all the stakeholders involved in health sector need to integrate, and link their work plan to the priorities of the government. Their work also needs to be backed up by a concerted effort to promote human rights, gender equality and poverty reduction. The National RMNCH Vision has been developed by Mo NHSRC with ten priority areas, is a dynamic document, leading to a mechanism for national consensus on important issues around RMNCAH and Nutrition in the times to come, and is in line with global commitments for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. All provinces, regions, partners, line ministries, academics and international experts have contributed and endorsed it in order to take the process forward. |
||
2. Medical TourismThe Medical Tourism initiative is part of the larger Economic Outreach Initiative (EOI) by the Government of Pakistan. It was initiated in February 2021. Medical Tourism not only caters to the demand side but also to the supply side of this idea. The government of Pakistan has added accredited Hospitals to its panel and works to spread its outreach to private and government hospitals. The initiative looks to invite citizens from all over the world to choose Pakistan as their medical choice. Not only does Pakistan offer its best hospitals but also its best Doctors from all over the world to add their expertise to the initiative. The objectives of the Medical Tourism initiative are:
|
||
3. Yaran e WatanYaran-E-Watan hopes to realize the full potential of the diaspora community for health sector development in Pakistan. And to create a platform for the Pakistani diaspora to facilitate their sustained engagement for health sector development in Pakistan. Diaspora health communities can support their home country’s health care system in multiple ways that go beyond ?nancial contributions. By sharing of skills, competencies and knowledge, the diaspora community can create a sustained impact. The overarching and long-term goals are following:
|
||
AchievementsFollowing are Achievements of population program wing upto now.
|
||