Pakistan’s Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has publicly criticized the current National Finance Commission (NFC) award formula, arguing its 82% population-based distribution of funds is flawed and disincentivizes population control. Speaking during a budget debate, Kamal highlighted the disproportionate allocation received by smaller provinces like Balochistan, suggesting they would need to artificially inflate their populations to receive funding comparable to larger provinces like Punjab. He contrasted Pakistan’s system with a neighboring country’s NFC formula, which considers factors beyond population, such as revenue and regional development. Kamal warned that continued population growth will strain public resources, requiring significant investment in education and healthcare infrastructure – 64,000 new schools and 135,000 hospital beds. He proposed a 32% incentive for provinces actively working to control population growth and praised the recent removal of taxes on contraceptives as a positive step. The Minister’s remarks underscore concerns about equitable resource allocation and sustainable development within Pakistan.