The rapidly growing population remains one of our most pressing yet persistently neglected challenges. While governments have long acknowledged the issue, population growth continues to outpace the country’s ability to provide adequate services and opportunities. Unless addressed with urgency and consistency, the rising population threatens to undermine our long-term development goals. In his message on World Population Day, PM Shehbaz Sharif rightly described responsible population planning as the foundation of a welfare-oriented society. Indeed, Pakistan’s annual population growth rate of 2.55 per cent poses serious challenges for employment, education, healthcare, housing, food security, infrastructure and environmental sustainability. Equally important was the PM’s call for all stakeholders, governments, parliamentarians, civil society, religious scholars, the private sector, academia and local communities to recognize population management as a shared national responsibility rather than merely a government concern.
The urgency of the challenge becomes even clearer when viewed alongside the Population Projections Report 2023-2050 released in May. Prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, the report projects that Pakistan’s population could rise to nearly 390 million by 2050, an increase of about 62 per cent. Even under scenarios involving greater contraceptive use, the population is expected to exceed 383 million. More strikingly, around 256 million people are projected to be of working age by then, a figure that exceeds Pakistan’s current total population. Creating employment, education and healthcare opportunities for such numbers would require unprecedented levels of planning, investment and economic growth.
In this backdrop, time has come to move beyond declarations to sustained action on the ground. Establishing the National Population Council is undoubtedly a welcome and praiseworthy step, but its success will ultimately be measured not by meetings held or policies drafted, but by tangible improvements in family planning services, public awareness and population trends. An effective population policy must ensure universal access to quality reproductive healthcare and family planning services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Public awareness campaigns should encourage responsible parenthood and informed family planning while respecting cultural and religious sensitivities. Girls’ education and women’s empowerment must occupy a central place in any long-term strategy, as experience across the world consistently shows that educated women tend to make more informed decisions regarding family size, maternal health and children’s education. At the same time, population planning should be fully integrated into national development policies rather than treated as an isolated sector.
The costs of inaction are becoming increasingly evident. A rapidly expanding population means greater demand for schools, hospitals, housing, transport, clean drinking water, electricity and employment opportunities. Without matching investments, public services will continue to deteriorate, unemployment will rise, poverty will deepen and natural resources will come under even greater strain. Economic gains, however significant, will struggle to keep pace if population growth continues unchecked. Our young population undoubtedly represents immense potential. With the right investments, it can become a powerful engine of economic growth and national progress. But this demographic dividend can only be realized if population growth is brought ithin manageable limits. Otherwise, today’s opportunity may well become tomorrow’s burden.
