Islamabad [Pakistan], December 12 (ANI): Pakistan’s long-delayed fertility transition has stagnated, showing little to no progress since 2006, according to a new study launched by the Population Council with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The report, “Unlocking the Stall in Fertility Decline and Socio-Economic Development in Pakistan,” finds that after a period of rapid decline, fertility has plateaued because of sluggish social and economic development, Dawn reported.
The study cites entrenched cultural norms favoring larger families and weak acceptance of modern contraception even among younger people. Persistently low female education levels, high child mortality and slow income growth are identified as major drivers of the stall. Dr Zeba Sathar, Population Council Country Director, said Pakistan is one of the few South Asian countries where fertility has been unchanged for nearly 20 years, averaging 3.6 children per woman, and warned that without improvements in women’s education, empowerment and economic participation, fertility will remain high and development will suffer.
Dr John P.M. Bongaarts, former Population Council vice president, noted that other countries lowered population growth alongside economic progress, and warned that failing to meet unmet family planning needs and ensure voluntary reproductive health services will leave Pakistan facing unmanageable population pressures.
UNFPA Country Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh said that although women increasingly prefer smaller families, inconsistent policies, weak health systems and inadequate contraceptive supplies restrict choices, and urged expansion of the Lady Health Workers programme nationwide.
The study concludes that by 2035 Pakistan must halve child mortality, double the share of women with secondary education, and reduce poverty and inequality to reverse the fertility stall, Dawn reported. (ANI)
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