Pakistan, July 2 -- ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting on population management, calling it a national emergency. He warned that Pakistan's 2.55% population growth rate could push the population beyond 386 million by 2050. The Minister stressed that family size affects every aspect of life-health, education, and jobs-and urged national coordination to tackle the crisis.

The meeting included ministers, senators, health experts, and global partners from UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and the Population Council. Key facts were shared, including that 40% of Pakistanis have never been to school and only 25% of women work. Speakers agreed that current population trends are alarming and that lack of nation...