Pakistan army chief Asim Munir appointed to population management committee

Pakistan has placed Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief of the army, on a newly formed high‑level committee on population management. The panel, announced by Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, also includes Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Its mandate is to propose policies to curb the country’s rapid population growth, which stands at about 2.55 % per year and generates roughly 6.7 million births annually, raising concerns that Pakistan could become the world’s fourth‑most populous nation by the end of the decade.

The committee will examine measures such as expanding access to contraceptives—tax exemptions on these products have already been introduced—and revising the National Finance Commission award formula, which currently allocates most federal resources based on population size. Officials say the existing formula may inadvertently encourage higher birth rates. Munir’s inclusion signals an expanding role for the military in civilian policymaking; he was promoted to field marshal after the 2025 India‑Pakistan conflict and already participates in bodies like the Special Investment Facilitation Council. The move underscores the government’s prioritisation of demographic challenges alongside ongoing security issues in Balochistan and along the Afghanistan border.