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ISLAMABAD:
As Pakistan’s population grows faster than employment, health services and capacity, a parliamentary panel on Tuesday flagged population growth as a growing national risk.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, has expressed concerns over the pressure that uncontrolled population growth is putting on jobs, public services and health indicators.
The panel also revisited long-standing disputes around the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), vacant teaching posts and allocation of development funds.
The committee considered the private member’s bill titled “National Population and Reproductive Health Bill, 2026”, considered issues related to MDCAT and vacancies in medical and dental colleges, reviewed population growth and its impact on maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), and discussed the proposed budget of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of the Ministry of National Health Services, regulation and coordination for the financial year 2026-27.
Initially, the committee ruled on the private member’s bill titled ‘Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill, 2025’ due to the absence of the mover in three consecutive meetings.
Discussion on another private member’s bill, “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill 2025”, was postponed at the request of the mover.
During deliberations on the “National Population and Reproductive Health Bill, 2026”, committee members expressed serious concerns over the rapid population growth and its negative implications on national resources, employment opportunities and public services.
Members stressed the need for a comprehensive and uniform national policy to effectively deal with population growth.
The Department of National Health Services raised technical objections to the bill, citing the existence of a federal population task force.
