Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has pointed out a fundamental flaw in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, warning that the over-reliance on population for resource allocation is undermining efforts to control population growth, as it encourages more populous provinces by giving them greater funds.
According to sources, in a video message released today (Monday), he stated that the first digital census of 2023 revealed some concerning facts. The population growth rate in Pakistan has risen from 2.4% to 2.55%, one of the highest rates in the world. He warned that if this pace continues, Pakistan’s population could reach 400 million by 2050, placing a severe strain on resources.
Ahsan Iqbal noted that since 82% of NFC resources are distributed based on population, provinces have no incentive to reduce their population. He called this a major challenge and emphasized the need for national-level family planning.
Meanwhile, the work of the NFC Commission is progressing slowly, and due to limited progress by the working groups, there are concerns that the next meeting may be delayed.
