Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, whose influence extends well beyond military affairs, is set to take on another responsibility. In addition to overseeing the armed forces, participating in diplomatic initiatives, contributing to economic policymaking, and frequently commenting on India, Munir has now been tasked with addressing Pakistan's rapidly growing population.
The announcement was made by Pakistan's Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal during a Senate session earlier this week, according to The Dawn. With a population exceeding 259 million, Pakistan is currently the world's fifth-most populous country and is projected to overtake Indonesia to become the fourth largest by 2030. For an economy already under significant financial strain, officials view the population surge as a major challenge.
Asim Munir's Expanded Role
To tackle the issue, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee that includes Asim Munir. According to the health minister, managing population growth has now become a national priority.
"The government is treating this issue with the highest priority, and important policy decisions are being taken at every level," Kamal said.
Munir's expanded role comes at a time when Pakistan is simultaneously grappling with multiple security challenges, including unrest in Balochistan, tensions along the Afghanistan border, and continuing instability in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), where protests over economic hardship and allegations of police excesses have intensified.
Earlier this week, 42 Pakistani security personnel were reportedly killed in attacks carried out by Baloch insurgents and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Balochistan. Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have also remained elevated in recent weeks.
Against this backdrop, the decision to assign the army chief a role in addressing population growth has drawn criticism and satire from many Pakistanis.
Social media users responded with jokes and memes targeting Munir's new responsibility. One user sarcastically asked whether the army chief would begin distributing condoms, while journalist Asad Toor remarked that if the government needed the field marshal to handle population control, it should step down. Another user quipped that Munir had already "reduced the population" in places such as Kashmir, Balochistan, Muridke, and Islamabad.
What's Driving Pakistan's Population Growth?
According to the health department, one of the primary reasons behind Pakistan's high population growth is the limited availability of contraceptives. The country records approximately 6.7 million births every year, prompting the government to consider tax exemptions on contraceptive products to improve access.
Another concern involves the formula used for distributing financial resources among provinces. Currently, around 80% of provincial revenue allocation is based on population size, a system officials believe unintentionally encourages higher population growth. The health minister has proposed reducing the population-based share to below 50%.
However, such a proposal could face resistance from provinces with larger populations.
Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province and the political stronghold of the Sharif family, could be among those affected. As the country's political, military, and financial hub, Punjab may oppose any changes that reduce its share of government resources.
Pakistan's annual population growth rate currently stands at around 2.55%. Experts have warned that if this pace continues, the country's population could soon outstrip its available resources. For an economy heavily dependent on financial assistance from Gulf nations and international lending institutions, unchecked population growth is widely viewed as a serious long-term challenge.
