Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday stressed on the need to examine holistically the use of population as a criterion for distribution of resources.
Attending a meeting to review the ongoing development of the National Health and Population Policy (NHPP) for 2025-34, he urged the team to ensure the framed policy aligns with best international practices and benchmarks to ensure an equitable and effective approach to resource allocation.
Apart from the finance minister, senior officers from the Ministry of Finance as well as a three-member NHPP team comprising Dr. Sameen Siddiqi, Health Systems Specialist Dr. Tayyeb Masud and Public Health Expert Dr. Noorul Huda Shah participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the NHPP team updated the minister on the formulation of the policy intended to guide the country’s health and population strategies for the next decade. It emphasized that the new policy was developing through evidence-based decision-making and was prioritizing critical health issues within the context of the fiscal constraints facing Pakistan.
Outlining the broader goals of the policy, the NHPP team noted it includes reorganizing and restructuring the existing health infrastructure; addressing challenges posed by high population growth; integrating health and population strategies; and leveraging political capital to increase public sector financing for the health sector. Through these efforts, they said, the country can achieve an efficient and effective health system that meets the needs of a growing population, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society.
The NHPP team also submitted a series of proposals and recommendations designed to help achieve its goals, focusing on strengthening health systems, improving resource allocation, and ensuring that critical health services reach all segments of the population.
The finance minister commended the team for their efforts and urged them to submit formally all recommendations and proposals to the Ministry of Finance for further review and action.
Acknowledging the significant challenges posed by climate change, rapid population growth, and associated issues, Aurangzeb highlighted the recent signing of a 10-year Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank, particularly the $20 billion commitment to focus on key development areas, including health, education, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue working closely on the development of the NHPP, with the goal of addressing Pakistan’s health and population challenges in a sustainable and impactful manner.