Egypt is studying proposals to prevent families with three or more children from accessing government subsidies. Population growth is outpacing the country's economic reforms. Egypt needs to limit its population to 112 million by 2030 if the measures are to succeed. Adel EL Mahrouky has more from Cairo.

With 2.5 million new-borns a year and a fragile economy, Egypt urgently needs to cap its population growth. Statistics show that an average Egyptian woman gives birth to at least three children. But the government can't adopt policies that force citizens to limit the number of children they have.

WALID GABALLAHECONOMIC LEGISLATION ANALYST "The state is facing a constitutional dilemma. It can't interfere in a person's right to have children, limit or change the number of children a person has. But at the same time, it's not giving equal rights to citizens. Those who have more children get more subsidies than those who don't have children -- that's an unfair distribution of the country's wealth."

However, a new initiative is in the works. Members of Parliament are drafting legislation that would allow families with two children to access government grants, offer additional incentives to families with one child and block those with three or more children from accessing any financial or in-kind state assistance. With the average Egyptian family made up of five people, the initiative would impact most of the population.

UM HANANMOTHER OF FOUR "They can't punish us for having children, my salary is 60 dollars a month, I pay rent, and barely survive with the rest. I can't pay market prices for goods. Without government subsidy cards, I won't be able to buy food."

Ashraf Morsi heads up a family of five. Every morning, he helps his son set up their informal sandwich stand -- an additional source of income -- before he goes off to work. For many families like Ashraf's, the current government grants cover only a portion of their monthly expenses. And without the benefits card, they'd struggle.

ASHRAF MORSIFATHER OF THREE "It's a terrible idea, they can't let us get used to living with subsidies, and then suddenly take them away. They are also doing it at a time where living costs are extremely high. The government should be helping people -- not adding to their financial burdens."

Family planning measures have not been officially implemented. However, Ashraf says his benefits have been cut.

ASHRAF MORSIFATHER OF THREE "The government is already excluding members of families from the subsidies system -- even before they introduce this new concept. We are a family of five and three members have been removed as beneficiaries. How is that possible?"

ADEL EL MAHROUKYCAIRO "Many like Ashraf say they were surprised to find members of their households excluded from their supply cards, or even that the card itself was suspended. They come here to the supply office to register them back, but most of them go back home in vain."

As the government tries to reduce those dependent on state grants, families are trying desperately to register more relatives as beneficiaries. Subsidy programmes are the biggest cause of Egypt's budget deficit. The government maintains that if it reaches its targeted 112 million citizens by 2030, instead of the projected 128 million, it could save at least 11 billion dollars. Adel EL Mahrouky, CGTN, Cairo.