By Ayesha Saba

The  Pakistani government has extended the National Action Plan on Population until June 30, 2027 and allocated fresh funding of Rs250 million for a nationwide awareness campaign to strengthen population management and ensure uninterrupted contraceptive commodity security.

According to the official documents available with WealthPK, the largest share of Rs148 million for FY2026-27 has been earmarked for advocacy and communication through television, radio, digital, social and print media to promote awareness and behavioural change.

The project’s PC-I is also being revised to align it with the emerging population challenges and national priorities, with the revision targeted for completion by August 15, 2026.

Besides the media campaign, Rs80 million has been allocated for contraceptive commodity procurement and security to ensure the uninterrupted availability of family planning supplies.

Another Rs10 million has been earmarked for curriculum development and training, Rs2 million for procurement of office equipment, and Rs10 million for other unforeseen expenditures.

The project will continue focusing on strengthening monitoring, evaluation, training, and operational support mechanisms to improve implementation and programme effectiveness.

The next phase also envisages expanding social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) initiatives, strengthening evidence-based planning and monitoring systems, and promoting contraceptive security through measures including tax relief on contraceptives and wider public awareness campaigns.

The documents describe the initiative as part of a broader strategy to transform the existing project into a results-oriented national population awareness and behaviour change programme while ensuring effective utilisation of the approved FY2026-27 allocation.

The project was approved by the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) on May 28, 2021, with a total cost of Rs1,996.683 million. It covers 10 districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 14 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), targeting an estimated 4.2 million beneficiaries.

The project targets key reproductive health milestones by 2030, aiming to lower the country’s population growth rate to 1.1% and the total fertility rate (TFR) to 2.2 births per woman. It also seeks to boost the contraceptive prevalence rate to 60%, secure commodity supplies, and expand universal access to family planning and reproductive health services across the country.

The document also shows that, as of June 30, 2025, the project had utilised Rs383.908 million, representing 81.6% of released funds and 34% of total allocated funds, while physical progress on contraceptive commodity procurement stood at 23% of the target outlined in the PC-I.

Credit: INP-WealthPk