PM terms population growth 'alarming', calls for unified national strategy
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday termed Pakistan's annual population growth rate of 2.55% an 'alarming trend' and called for urgent and coordinated action to address the growing challenge, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, the premier said the rising numbers demand a comprehensive national strategy to manage population growth and ensure sustainable development.
'We need comprehensive planning to ensure our growing population, especially the youth, becomes a productive part of the economy,' the premier said, describing the country's youth as its greatest asset.
Pakistan's population, which was 31 million at the time of its independence in 1947, reached 241 million as per the 2023 census.
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According to projections in the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 report, Pakistan's population is anticipated to peak in 2092 at 404.68 million people. The report also indicates that Pakistan's population will surpass that of Indonesia in 2048, reaching 331.29 million by then.
Despite a declining fertility rate, which has dropped from six live births per woman in 1994 to 3.6, the country is projected to become the third most populous nation in the world by 2050, surpassing the United States, Brazil, and Russia.
The prime minister noted that the government is actively working to empower young people and integrate them into the economic mainstream. 'Opportunities are being created to enable our youth to play a central role in national development,' he added.
Stressing the need for greater gender inclusion, PM Shehbaz highlighted the importance of women's participation in the workforce. 'Women constitute a significant portion of our human capital. We must ensure greater employment opportunities for them,' he said.
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To develop an effective national response, the PM directed the formation of a policy committee in coordination with provincial governments. 'A unified and strategic response is the need of the hour,' he asserted, advocating a federal-provincial framework to address population-related concerns.
The premier also called for a nationwide awareness campaign to educate the public on the implications of unchecked population growth, particularly in terms of economic sustainability.
During the meeting, officials presented various policy proposals, stressing that long-term solutions would require provincial cooperation and grassroots engagement.
The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and other senior government officials.
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