Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Given New Job to Help Tackle Country’s Population Growth
Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir has picked up a new job with nothing to do with the military: he’s now on a government committee tasked with tackling the country’s population growth.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal announced the move during a Senate session earlier this week, according to The Dawn. Pakistan’s population has crossed 259 million, making it the world’s fifth most populous country, and it’s on track to pass Indonesia and become the fourth largest by 2030.
Munir joins the population committee
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up the committee to address population growth, and Munir is one of its members. Kamal called it a national priority. “The government is treating this issue with the highest priority, and important policy decisions are being taken at every level,” he said.
The committee was formed while Pakistan is also dealing with security problems in Balochistan, friction along the Afghan border, and unrest in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir over economic grievances and accusations of police overreach.
Formed amid security pressure
Just this week, 42 Pakistani security personnel were reportedly killed in attacks by Baloch rebels and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants in Balochistan. Border tensions with Afghanistan haven’t let up either.
Also Read:“Will Avenge His Death”: Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei On His Father’s Funeral
Social media reacts
Munir’s addition to the committee drew heavy reaction online, much of it mocking. “What would (Asim) Munir do? Distribute condoms?” one user asked. Journalist Asad Toor wrote: “If the government needs their field marshal for population control, it should go home.” Another post read: “He successfully reduced population in Kashmir, Balochistan, Muridke, Islamabad.”
Why Pakistan is worried about population growth
The health department points to limited access to contraceptives as a major driver. Pakistan sees an average of 6.7 million births a year. One planned fix is tax exemptions on contraceptive products.
There’s also a funding formula problem. Nearly 80% of how provincial resources get divided up is based on population size, which officials think might be incentivizing higher birth rates. Kamal wants to bring that share down to under 50%, though provinces with large populations aren’t likely to accept the change easily.
The economic stakes
Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province and the Sharif family’s political base, stands to lose the most if that formula changes. It’s also home to much of the country’s financial infrastructure and remains central to political and military power.
Pakistan’s population is growing at 2.55% a year. Experts warn that if that continues, growth will outpace what the country’s resources can support, adding more strain to an economy already leaning heavily on Gulf states and international lenders.