Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described on Thursday the growth rate of the annual Pakistan population of 2.55% an “alarming trend” and requested an urgent and coordinated action to address the growing challenge, said Associated Press of Pakistan.
By chairing a high -level meeting in the prime minister’s office, the prime minister said that the growing number requires a national integral strategy to manage population growth and guarantee sustainable development.
“We need comprehensive planning to ensure that our growing population, especially young people, becomes a productive part of the economy,” said Prime Minister, describing the young people in the country as their greatest asset.
The population of Pakistan, which was 31 million at the time of its independence in 1947, reached 241 million according to the 2023 census.
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According to the projections in the world UN Population 2024 report, it is anticipated that the population of Pakistan reaches its maximum point in 2092 with 404.68 million people. The report also indicates that the population of Pakistan will exceed Indonesia in 2048, reaching 331.29 million by then.
In spite of a fertility rate in Declive, which has decreased from six living births per woman in 1994 to 3.6, the country is expected to become the third most populated nation in the world by 2050, surpassing the United States, Brazil and Russia.
The prime minister said the government is actively working to empower young people and integrate them into the economic current. “Opportunities are being created to allow our young people to play a central role in national development,” he added.
Emphasizing the need for greater gender inclusion, Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the importance of women’s participation in the workforce. “Women constitute a significant portion of our human capital. We must guarantee greater employment opportunities for them,” he said.
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To develop an effective national response, the prime minister directed the formation of a policy committee in coordination with the provincial governments. “A unified and strategic response is the need for the time,” he said, advocating a provincial federal framework to address the concerns related to the population.
The prime minister also requested an awareness campaign throughout the country to educate the public about the implications of population growth without control, particularly in terms of economic sustainability.
During the meeting, officials presented several policy proposals, emphasizing that long -term solutions would require provincial cooperation and base commitment.
The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan IQBAL, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, the Minister of Law Azam Nazeer Tarar and other senior government officials.
