ISLAMABAD, July 21 -- Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said on Monday that Pakistan's population is increasing annually by as much as New Zealand's entire population, warning that unchecked growth is putting immense pressure on the country's healthcare and public services.

Speaking at the launch of a digital system for the licensing and registration of medical devices, the minister said Pakistan's population growth rate has reached 3.6% - one of the highest in the region.

Kamal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a high-level committee on population control, and the government is launching an integrated healthcare system to monitor patient needs more effectively. He emphasized that the state is committed to easing he...