Journalists, policy experts and development practitioners gathered in Swat for a Media Coalition Meeting focused on population stabilisation, resource allocation and the media’s role in promoting accountability.

The meeting, titled “Population Stabilisation and Resource Allocation: Media’s Role in Promoting Accountability,” was organised by the Population Council in collaboration with UNFPA. Participants called for stronger and sustained public investment in family planning, health, education and related social sectors.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ali Mir, Country Director of the Population Council, said population and development priorities require sustained political commitment and adequate financing. He said health and education funding should be treated as long-term investments in Pakistan’s future.

Dr. Mir also called for renewed attention to frontline service systems, particularly the Lady Health Worker programme. He said birth spacing was consistent with Islamic teachings when linked to maternal and child health.

Presenting key evidence, Ikram ul Ahad, Manager Communication at the Population Council, highlighted what he described as a gap between Pakistan’s demographic trends and public financing priorities.

He said Pakistan’s population continues to grow at around 2.5 percent annually, while investment in population welfare remains a small share of the public budget compared with other countries in the region.

Ikram ul Ahad said data should be used more effectively to hold duty-bearers accountable to national commitments, including the Council of Common Interests target of reducing fertility to replacement level. He said family planning was among the most cost-effective public investments, with benefits for health, economic stability and human development.

Ammar Ali Qureshi, Senior Economic Advisor, said population stabilisation should be viewed as a macroeconomic priority rather than only a demographic issue.

He said Pakistan’s economic pressures were linked to rapid population growth and structural economic challenges. He also highlighted girls’ education and women’s economic participation as key factors in reducing fertility and supporting long-term growth.

Participants from national and local media outlets discussed governance, financing and service-delivery gaps affecting population and development outcomes. They noted persistent provincial disparities, limited access to quality health and education services, and social barriers affecting family planning.

The discussion also focused on women’s empowerment, male engagement in family planning, access to information and the need for greater transparency in public spending and service delivery.

Participants said digital platforms, storytelling and evidence-based journalism could help improve public understanding of population issues and support behaviour change.

The meeting also examined links between population growth, economic pressure, urbanisation and human capital development.

Speakers said population stabilisation is a national priority with direct implications for economic growth, public services and human development. They called for protected financing for population and social sectors, improved coordination among institutions and better implementation of services.

A key conclusion of the meeting was that the media can play an important role in strengthening accountability and keeping population issues part of national policy discussions.

Participants said evidence-based reporting could help bridge the gap between policy commitments and implementation while encouraging informed public debate.

The meeting concluded with a shared call for sustained political will, adequate financing and public engagement to achieve population stabilisation. Media professionals reaffirmed their commitment to improving coverage of population and development issues with a focus on accountability and long-term national priorities.

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