Islamabad, August 7, 2025: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed deep concern over Pakistan’s annual population growth rate of 2.55%, calling it an alarming trend that demands immediate and coordinated policy intervention at the national level.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office to review the challenges posed by unchecked population growth, the prime minister said the issue required comprehensive and unified planning to ensure long-term national stability.
“We need comprehensive planning to ensure our growing population, especially the youth, becomes a productive part of the economy,” PM Shehbaz stated.
“A large segment of our population comprises young people, who are the most valuable asset for our country.”
He highlighted various government initiatives aimed at empowering youth and integrating them into the economic mainstream. “Opportunities are being created to enable our youth to play a central role in national development,” he added.
The prime minister also stressed the critical role of women in the workforce, directing stakeholders to expand employment opportunities for women. “Women constitute a significant portion of our human capital. We must ensure greater inclusion and access for them in all sectors,” he said.
To address the issue holistically, PM Shehbaz ordered the formation of a special committee tasked with formulating a comprehensive national population policy in close collaboration with provincial governments. He emphasized the need for a federal-provincial coordinated response to manage demographic pressures effectively.
He further directed the launch of a nationwide awareness campaign to educate citizens about the social, economic, and environmental implications of unchecked population growth, especially in the context of sustainable development.
Officials at the meeting presented a range of proposals and highlighted that active provincial engagement and grassroots public awareness would be key to any long-term solution.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, and other senior officials.
