s we approach World Population Day on July 11, technological innovation is reshaping global population trends.

Where does Pakistan stand in terms of healthcare, education and urban planning when it comes to technology to rewrite the narratives of population?

“Technology is the future. Pakistan can secure a better future with better population planning and management,” says Dr Shakir Mahmood Mayo, head of the Department of City and Regional Planning at University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.

“We’re living in the age of information technology. Information is the player that can dictate people’s behaviour towards population,” says Dr Zain Bhatti, a former political advisor to the chief minister on health, who runs a welfare clinic on the outskirts of Gujranwala.

He says the population explosion is the biggest problem in Pakistan. In implementing the agenda to control the population, we face religious and cultural issues.

Digital media can help educate a society on taboos surrounding birth control, he says, adding that medical technologies have provided lots of choices regarding birth control by using condoms or, oral contraceptive pills or intrauterine devices for females.

“The Covid-19 lockdown brought us closer to technology and data management,” he says, referring to the dashboard set up by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination. The digital connectivity and data feeding changed a lot and the government was able to defeat the deadly pandemic.” This led to tele-health services. Dr Bhatti says he has reached out to hundreds of people through this tool.

“Telemedicine platforms have shrunk the distance between urban and rural healthcare facilities. Patients from remote areas can now consult specialists, breaking the travel barriers. Women speak more confidently on digital devices to consult experts regarding birth control, contraceptives, etc.”

Sadaffe Abid, a civil society activist, vouches for Dr Bhatti’s observation.

Ms Abid, the chairperson of the CIRCLE Women Association, says she has been working to empower women with digital technologies. “I’ve worked with almost 30,000 women in rural, peri-urban and small urban localities of Pakistan to empower them digitally. I can say that a woman with access to information through digital means is more aware of her family’s needs, health issues and economic opportunities.”

On World Population Day, she says, the present era is dictated by digital dreams. The authorities and the public, especially women, should tap digital treasures. She says Pakistan, with the world’s worst gender digital divides, as highlighted in the UNDP’s 2024 report on Digital Transformation in Pakistan, should work to stem the gaps. “Technology can empower women. Empowered women take better decisions regarding population welfare and management,” she says.

Ms Sadaffe says she has seen scores of women in remote villages of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa connect with doctors through apps on their smartphones for real-time consultation.

While healthcare and civil society professionals are actively using modern technology to stem the tide of the population tsunami, the Punjab Population Welfare Department is also awakening to the presence of technology for better results.

Deputy Director Hassan Iqbal Dogar sits in his office surrounded by papers and files. He says that his department has digitised the inventory housing contraceptives. “Earlier, the inventory was maintained manually. Now, it is managed digitally. Moreover, the department has structured data on contraceptives given to the public.”

He says the department has data on the distribution of contraceptives across the province. Last year, more than three million units of various contraceptives were provided to the public. This included condoms, oral contraceptives, injectable birth control and intrauterine devices.

“With data, we can have the initiative to enhance family planning awareness and accessibility,” he says.

The department has started mapping demographic interventions at the union council level with software prepared by the Punjab Information Technology Board.

The software tool will integrate various data points, including migration trends, demographic profiles, and the number of union councils covered. It will also detail the presence and activities of the department across regions, survey results and statistics on families and children. The dashboard will feature forecasting capabilities, enabling better planning and resource allocation.

Technological interventions have started showing their footprint in urban planning. Imran Amin, CEO of Punjab Central Business District Development Authority, says the latest technological advancements in population management can facilitate master planning. He says that recognising the complexity of managing a rapidly growing population, CBD Punjab has utilised state-of-the-art tools and advanced software to conduct in-depth public studies and surveys. These initiatives are designed to gather precise and relevant data, which forms the backbone of their strategic planning efforts.

“The process begins with conducting extensive public studies and surveys, which are crucial for understanding the population’s demographic trends, needs and preferences. These studies are meticulously planned and executed using advanced tools. We gather accurate data on population density, migration patterns and the socio-economic characteristics of different communities within the region,” he says.

The surveys conducted by CBD Punjab employ sophisticated methodologies to ensure that the data collected is comprehensive and reliable. Advanced software applications are used to design and administer these surveys, enabling real-time data collection and analysis. These tools allow for the integration of various data sources. Also, the use of GIS technology is trending. GIS allows for the mapping and analysis of spatial data, which is essential for understanding the geographical distribution of the population and identifying areas of high density or rapid growth. Remote sensing technology also plays a significant role in CBD Punjab’s population management strategy. High-resolution satellite images provide up-to-date information on land use changes, urban sprawl and environmental conditions. This data is invaluable for monitoring the impact of development projects and ensuring that growth is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Prof Shakir Mahmood has long been advocating the intersection of technology and urban planning to address Pakistan’s population growth and development challenges.

He says given the high population growth, strategic urban planning is imperative.

“Using demographic profiles and migration data, independent and data-driven strategies can be made for better planned cities. Dashboards need to integrate data on births and deaths, departmental presence, family statistics and household surveys at union councils.

Prof Mahmood says technology, information and a knowledge economy are drive urban development.

“The advent of smart cities, powered by the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, exemplifies this transformation. Drone technology and aerial photography provide detailed geographical and vegetation indexes while tracking human movement to inform urban planning decisions.”

The writer is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship