By Ijaz Kakakhel

The government is set to finalise the revised PC-I for the Implementation of the National Action Plan on Population (2021-26) by the end of this month, with a target of reducing the total fertility rate to 2.2 births per woman and the population growth rate to 1.1% by 2030, according to official project documents available with Wealth Pakistan. The revision comes as the government plans a fresh Rs250 million allocation for FY2026-27, with Rs150 million proposed for a nationwide advocacy and media campaign and Rs80 million for contraceptive commodity procurement as authorities seek to strengthen population awareness, family planning services and contraceptive availability.

The documents show that Rs10 million has been proposed for curriculum and training, Rs2 million for office equipment and Rs8 million for miscellaneous expenditure. Under the new activity plan, the project intends to launch a nationwide multimedia awareness campaign through television, radio, digital, social and print media. The campaign will promote behavioural change to encourage responsible family planning, while ensuring uninterrupted contraceptive supplies and monitoring campaign outcomes.

The documents show that the key strategic objective is to transform the initiative into a results-oriented national population awareness and behaviour change programme. The PC-I revision is currently underway, with a revision committee already constituted with representation from the Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The committee held its first meeting on July 21, 2026, while finalisation of the revised PC-I is planned by the end of August.

The revision will also seek to align the programme with emerging demographic challenges and national population priorities. The project was approved by the Departmental Development Working Party on May 28, 2021, at a total cost of Rs1,998.82 million. It is being implemented by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination across ICT, AJK and GB, covering 9.3 million people in one district of ICT, 10 districts of AJK and 14 districts of GB.

Its approved cost included Rs1,679.6 million, or 84%, for contraceptive commodity procurement, Rs243.5 million for advocacy and communication, Rs22.2 million for curriculum and training, Rs13.5 million for universal access to family planning and reproductive health services, Rs14 million for seeking support of Ulema, Rs5 million for legislation and Rs11 million for miscellaneous expenditure.

As of June 30, 2026, cumulative allocations stood at Rs1.2 billion, while total releases reached Rs470 million and utilisation amounted to Rs383.329 million. The documents place overall financial progress at 19.1% and physical progress at 17%. The programme seeks to improve access to family planning and reproductive health services, maintain contraceptive supplies and promote adoption of smaller family norms through sustained advocacy and public awareness.

Credit: INP-WealthPk