Islamabad: Pakistan records an estimated 12.75 million pregnancies each year, nearly 47 percent of them unintended, underlining the need for reliable, voluntary contraceptive services and informed choices for women and couples, health experts said.
The figures were shared at a national ceremony held by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to mark World Contraception Day 2026, under the theme, “A Choice for All, Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.”
Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath said family planning was a national priority and access to voluntary contraceptive methods was essential for maternal and child health, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.
He said the National Population Council had been notified and the ministry, together with the planning and finance ministries, was preparing a National Population Stabilisation Programme for 2026-35.
Dr Bharath said family planning had been integrated into primary healthcare under universal health coverage, while postpartum and post-pregnancy family planning services had been piloted at primary-care hospitals in Islamabad Capital Territory.
Health Services Academy Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan said the population challenge was not only about the number of births, but also whether women and couples could obtain correct information, counselling and a contraceptive method of their choice.
He said estimates for 2025 showed that about six million pregnancies were unintended, while around 3.8 million induced abortions took place annually. About 1.5 million unintended pregnancies were carried to term, while an estimated 700,000 ended in miscarriages or stillbirths.
Total deliveries were around 7.3 million annually, he said, adding that unintended pregnancies had consequences for maternal health, child nutrition, household poverty, education and already stretched health services.
Dr Shabana Saleem, Director General Population, said reproductive agency, informed intention and equitable access to services should remain central to population policy and service delivery.
She said women and couples needed access to accurate information and quality counselling so that they could make voluntary decisions on the timing and spacing of pregnancies.
The ministry’s joint secretary for hospitals said sustained political commitment, adequate financing and coordination among federal, provincial and district authorities were needed to expand family planning services.
UNFPA Pakistan Country Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh called for dependable contraceptive supply chains, accurate information and women-centred services, reaffirming the agency’s support for Pakistan’s reproductive-health programmes.
FP2030 Asia Pacific Managing Director Sumita Banerjee shared regional experience of policy reforms, digital tools and private-sector engagement to improve family planning access.
Dr Aziz ur Rab of Greenstar Social Marketing said awareness alone would not increase contraceptive use unless services addressed myths, socio-cultural barriers and gaps in counselling.
The event was attended by the District Health Officer Islamabad, development partners, academics and civil-society representatives. A panel discussion, moderated by Pathfinder, brought together representatives of the ministry, Greenstar, UNFPA, the Health Services Academy and the Islamabad health office to discuss ways to accelerate family planning services.
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