‘Population projected to reach 385m by 2050'
While addressing the 'National Workshop on Population and Development' on Friday, he said that the population issue is not merely about numbers, but directly linked to the country's development and future.
'We must decide whether we want to raise generations that are hungry, sick, and intellectually weak, or healthy, strong, and intelligent,' he stated.
'Our religion does not oppose family planning,' he stressed, adding that in today's world, a nation's real strength lies not in numbers but in intellectual capacity.
The minister warned that rapid population growth poses serious threats to employment, public health, food security, and water resources. He emphasised that balancing the number of children with available resources can improve their health.
Iqbal urged the federal and provincial governments to ensure policy continuity and equitable resource distribution. He said that the recommendations from today's consultations would become part of a practical framework.
He called for increasing women's participation in the workforce to 50 per cent and expressed commitment to act on the dialogue's recommendations on population.
The minister further informed that, on the prime minister's instructions, a committee has been formed to address the population issue, with consultations to be held with all provinces.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Iqbal urges joint push for $100b exports
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof Ahsan Iqbal, on Saturday, called upon the government and private sector to work shoulder to shoulder in achieving an ambitious target of $100 billion in exports under what he termed an "export emergency." Speaking at a ceremony titled Marka-e-Haq and 78 years of Independence Day celebrations – Uraan Pakistan – at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Iqbal said Pakistan's economic stability hinged upon export-led growth, tax reforms, and foreign direct investment. He stressed that the business community was the main driver of the economy, and the private sector would play a decisive role in steering the country out of past cycles of instability. The minister said eight sectors had been identified as central to Pakistan's export expansion plan, including hospitality, IT, mining, manpower, blue economy, and creative industries. He urged FPCCI to immediately constitute eight joint working groups with the government to prepare actionable strategies in each sector. "Pakistan has faced severe economic crises in the past two years, but today international institutions are recognising our macroeconomic turnaround," Iqbal said. "We have to ensure that this turnaround becomes sustainable by focusing on exports and productivity." Iqbal likened the current phase to Pakistan's "fourth flight," referring to earlier failed attempts at sustained economic take-off. "The success of this Uraan depends on learning from the past three crashes. If we repeat old mistakes, we will fail again. But if we innovate, reform, and stand united, this time Pakistan will truly fly," he remarked. He stressed that Karachi remained the heart of Pakistan's economy, with FPCCI representing industries and businesses that fuel national growth. He further noted that the tax-to-GDP ratio remained among the lowest in the world, underscoring the urgent need to broaden the tax base. State Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Kheal Das Kohistani, also addressed the gathering. He praised the business community for its resilience, saying its role was crucial in strengthening Pakistan's economy. FPCCI President Atif Ikram Shaikh assured full support to the government's export-led strategy. He said global institutions' positive reports had boosted confidence in Pakistan's economy and that the private sector would serve as the government's partner in achieving the $100 billion target. "Through research-based policy inputs, FPCCI will continue providing feedback to the government to align strategies with ground realities," Shaikh noted. He added that new opportunities under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode would help accelerate growth. Senior Vice President FPCCI Saqib Fayaz and industrialist Bashir Jan Mohammed also underscored the need for closer cooperation between policymakers and businesses to sustain momentum. SM Tanveer, Patron-in-Chief of the United Business Group (UBG), said Pakistan's $40 billion trade deficit could only be addressed through aggressive export promotion. "The solution is export, export, and only export," he declared. Tanveer highlighted FPCCI's role in pushing down electricity tariffs from Rs48 per unit to Rs31 per unit, though he added the struggle was ongoing to bring rates further down to 9 cents (Rs26 per unit). Lowering interest rates from the current 11% to 6-7%, he said, would save the government Rs3,500 billion annually in debt servicing. He urged the government to focus on "district economy," giving local leadership authority over regional economic planning. "Every district in Pakistan can export its own product and earn foreign exchange. Decentralisation will strengthen the economy," he argued. Separately, FPCCI also hosted the PakistanEthiopia Business Council meeting. Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan, Jemal Beker Abdula, noted that Ethiopia's economy was growing at 8.2% annually, presenting opportunities for Pakistani exporters. The FPCCI president reaffirmed that under the government's "Look Africa" initiative, Pakistan would increase exports to African markets. "Pakistan and Ethiopia hold immense untapped trade potential, and FPCCI will act as the government's arm in realising it," he said. Chairman of the PakistanEthiopia Business Council, Ibrahim Khalid Tawab, added that African markets, particularly Ethiopia, were highly attractive for Pakistani exports.
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Putin writes condolence to President
ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin has written a condolence letter to his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, expressing sorrow over the loss of precious lives due to floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. President Putin conveyed his deep condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured, along with his best wishes for the affected families. In a condolence message addressed to President Zardari, President Putin extended heartfelt sympathies over the human tragedy, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where several precious lives were lost. KP, G-B floods: Baker extends condolences to families The Russian President has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives caused by floods in Pakistan. Putin also expressed wishes for the injured for their speedy recovery and best wishes to the affected families. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Karachi's development Sindh govt's responsibility: federal minister
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the responsibility for Karachi's development lies with the Sindh government, not with the federal government. Speaking at the Federation House, Karachi, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that the 'Uraan Pakistan' programme had five major initiatives including exports enhancement, E-Pakistan digital transformation, equality and social development, environmental protection, food and water security, and energy and infrastructure development. Under 'Uraan Pakistan' programme, the government has set an ambitious export target of US$100 billion in the next 7-8 years, which the Minister believed would be achievable. Minister slams Centre for 'ignoring' development of Karachi While identifying eight exports potential sectors including agri, manufacturing, IT, services, mining, HR exports, creative industry and blue economy to achieve US$100 billion target, he announced to constitute eight working groups in collaboration with FPCCI members for the purpose. He said that federal government has decided to allocate Rs150 billion for K-IV project and construction work of Hyderabad- Sukkur motorway would be commenced in ongoing year. Minister Ahsan Iqbal provided a detailed account of Pakistan's recent economic journey, revealing that in April 2022, the Ministry of Finance had refused to pay quarterly external debt obligations, indicating Pakistan was internally defaulted. However, the country has achieved remarkable economic recovery with inflation dropping from 38 percent to 3 percent and interest rates falling from 22 percent to 11 percent in just two years. International credit rating agencies Moody's, S&P Global, and Fitch have upgraded Pakistan's credit rating, with international institutions calling Pakistan's economic recovery a 'miracle'. The federal minister emphasized Pakistan's untapped potential across various sectors, saying that despite being the world's 5th largest in dairy production, Pakistan lacks value addition and imports processed dairy products from Norway, Sweden, and Australia. He pointed out abundant granite resources in Chitral that remain unexploited and highlighted those coastal areas, particularly Gwadar, need seafood processing plants. The creative industry, worth over $2 trillion globally, presents significant opportunities for Pakistan, he added. Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed that Pakistan's tax-to-GDP ratio of merely 10.5 percent is among the world's lowest, emphasizing the need for improvement to 15.5 percent to achieve sustainable development. Comparing Pakistan's stagnant export growth to regional competitors, he said that while Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam have achieved hundreds of billions in exports from similar starting points in the 1960s, Pakistan remains at just $32 billion. President Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that Pakistan's credit rating has been upgraded by international agencies, noting that the government has set an export target of $60 billion by 2028 along with a sustainable GDP growth target of 6 percent by the same year. He said the government's annual private investment plan of $10 billion and pledged the business community's support in achieving the export target while calling for reduced interest rates and electricity prices to boost exports. Senior Vice President FPCCI Saqib Fayyaz Magoon highlighted the need to break free from IMF constraints to implement beneficial policies, revise trade agreements with China and African markets, establish free trade agreements for economic growth, and create export councils at the government level. State Minister for Religious and Minority Affairs Khalil Das Kohistani said that Pakistan's transformation from being on the brink of default in 2022 to now being on the path of progress. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
