Editorial: Pakistan can progress with sensible family planning

Pakistan is currently the 6th most populated country in the world and rapidly moving to become the 4th most populated by 2050. This is very alarming, as we are already outstripping our resources, with water, gas and power shortages. Nearly 1 in every 4 births is unplanned in Pakistan. Fifty percent of married women want pregnancy spacing or to limit their family, while 25% of married women have an unmet need of family planning. This unmet need is reflected in the large number of abortions, 890,000 per year, and women hospitalized with complications every year (197,000).