ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, attended a meeting on Monday to review the ongoing development of the National Health and Population Policy (NHPP) for the period 2025-34.
The meeting was attended by senior officers from the Ministry of Finance, as well as a three-member NHPP team led by Dr. Sameen Siddiqi, Professor at Aga Khan University, along with Health Systems Specialist Dr. Tayyeb Masud and Public Health Expert and NHPP Coordinator Dr. Noor ul Huda Shah.
During the meeting, the NHPP team provided an update on the formulation of the policy, which is set to guide the country’s health and population strategies for the next decade, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The team emphasized that the policy is being developed with a focus on evidence-based decision-making, prioritizing critical health issues, and considering the fiscal constraints resulting from Pakistan’s current macroeconomic situation.
The NHPP team outlined the broader goals of the policy, including reorganizing and restructuring the existing health infrastructure, addressing the challenges posed by high population growth, integrating health and population strategies, and leveraging political capital to increase public sector financing for the health sector. These efforts aim to create an efficient and effective health system to meet the needs of a growing population, particularly the most vulnerable sectors of society.
The team also presented a series of proposals and recommendations designed to help achieve the goals of the NHPP. These proposals focused on strengthening health systems, improving resource allocation, and ensuring that critical health services reach all segments of the population, especially those most in need.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb commended the team for their hard work and the progress made on the NHPP. He urged the team to formally submit their recommendations and proposals to the Ministry of Finance for further review and action.
He acknowledged the significant challenges posed by climate change, rapid population growth, and issues such as child stunting and learning poverty. He also highlighted the recent signing of a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the World Bank, which includes a $20 billion commitment to focus on key development areas, including health, education, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.
Minister Aurangzeb further noted that while Pakistan faces the challenge of a rapidly growing population, the use of population as a criterion for the distribution of resources must be examined holistically. He emphasized that the policy should align with best international practices and benchmarks to ensure an equitable and effective approach to resource allocation.
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, the statement added.
