Prime Minister calls on stakeholders to recognize the urgency of population growth and promote sustainable development

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged all stakeholders, including federal and provincial governments, members of parliament, development partners, civil society, academia, private sector, religious scholars, media and local communities, to recognize the urgency of population growth as a national issue and fulfill their shared responsibility by promoting informed decision-making, responsible parenthood, gender equality and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister, in his message on the occasion of World Population Day, said the day provided an important opportunity to highlight the importance of global population issues.

He added that this year’s theme, “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people, today and for the future,” underlines the critical role of young people in shaping a prosperous future. Creating an enabling environment for the younger generation is our collective responsibility.

“Today, Pakistan joins the international community in observing World Population Day and reaffirms its commitment to responsible population planning as a cornerstone of sustainable development and national prosperity,” Prime Minister Shehbaz wrote.

Responsible and prudent population planning and management, he said, form the basis of a welfare-oriented society, adding that a population that remains proportional to available resources ensures equitable access to public services and contributes to the well-being and prosperity of all citizens.

“Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world and is among the countries with a significant youth population. More than 65% of our population is below the age of 30, which undoubtedly represents a tremendous national asset and a powerful driver of economic and social progress,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said.

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He added that an annual population growth rate of 2.55% presents significant challenges for a country with respect to economic planning, employment generation, education, healthcare, housing, food security, infrastructure development and environmental sustainability.

According to Prime Minister Shehbaz, to fully harness the demographic potential of our youth and reap the benefits of this demographic dividend, sustained investment in our national resources and a comprehensive strategy are indispensable.

Human development and building people’s capabilities must remain at the center of our national development agenda, he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the federal government recently established the National Population Council for the formulation of a comprehensive and effective national strategy on population and development.

This high-level national forum, he said, would ensure policy coordination between the federal and provincial governments, strengthen institutional collaboration and provide strategic policy guidance for the implementation of the National Population Programme.

It will also facilitate timely and effective decision-making in line with national priorities.

“In addition, the Council will give due priority to the integration of population issues into the national development agenda, promoting women’s empowerment, driving human resource development and formulating evidence-based policies that support long-term social and economic prosperity,” he said.

To achieve the overall objective of developing capable, responsible and empowered citizens, the government is also implementing the Prime Minister’s Youth Program and several other important national initiatives, Prime Minister Shehbaz added.

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The Prime Minister emphasized that all citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity or origin, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society, deserved equal access to essential services and due consideration in future planning.

Education, healthcare, economic inclusion and equal opportunities for women and girls remain among the government’s top priorities, she said.

“Insha’Allah! Through collective determination and coordinated action, we can create an environment in which all citizens enjoy equal opportunities to lead healthy, dignified and productive lives,” the Prime Minister said.

He concluded: “Together we can transform Pakistan’s demographic potential into an enduring national strength and ensure a stable, prosperous, developed and resilient future for our present and future generations.”

According to a report published in May, Pakistan’s population could skyrocket to 390 million in the next 25 years, an increase of 62%, of which 256 million people will be in the market seeking employment, a figure that exceeds the total existing population.

Even if contraception is used to control the population, the population is expected to increase to more than 383 million, or 59%, in 2050, according to the Population Projections 2023-50 report, presented by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The report was prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).