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

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

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

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

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

Responsible and prudent population planning and management, he said, constitutes the foundation of a welfare-oriented society, adding that a population that remains commensurate with 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 ranks among countries with a significant young population. More than 65% of our population is under the age of 30, this undoubtedly represents a formidable national asset and a powerful engine of economic and social progress,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz.

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He added that an annual population growth rate of 2.55 percent presented significant challenges for a country in economic planning, job creation, education, healthcare, housing, food security, infrastructure development and environmental sustainability.

According to Prime Minister Shehbaz, in order 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 essential.

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

The Prime Minister highlighted that the Federal Government recently established the National Population Council to formulate a comprehensive and effective national population and development strategy.

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 Program.

This will also facilitate rapid and effective decision-making, in line with national priorities.

“Furthermore, the Council will prioritize the integration of population issues into the national development agenda, the promotion of women’s empowerment, human resource development and the formulation of evidence-based policies that support long-term social and economic prosperity,” he said.

To achieve the overarching objective of producing capable, responsible and self-reliant citizens, the government is also implementing the Prime Minister’s Youth Agenda and several other important national initiatives, Prime Minister Shehbaz added.

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The Prime Minister stressed that every citizen, regardless of race, ethnicity or origin, especially the most vulnerable segments of society, deserves equal access to essential services and is duly considered in future planning.

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

“Insha’Allah! Through collective determination and coordinated action, we can create an environment in which every citizen enjoys equal opportunities to lead a healthy, dignified and productive life,” assured the Prime Minister.

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 current and future generations.

According to a report released in May, Pakistan’s population could explode to 390 million in the next 25 years, an increase of 62 percent, of which 256 million people will be in the market looking for jobs, a figure higher than the current total population.

Even if contraceptive methods are used to control the population, the number of people is expected to increase to over 383 million, or 59 percent, in 2050, according to the Population Projections Report 2023-50, launched by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The report was prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).