ISLAMABAD— Commemorating World Population Day on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari issued urgent calls to action, framing Pakistan’s staggering 2.55% annual population growth rate as an immediate risk to sustainable economic planning, healthcare, and national resources.
With Pakistan currently holding its ground as the world’s fifth most populous nation, the state leadership emphasized that managing this demographic surge is a critical collective responsibility across all sectors of society.
Core National Priorities
- The Youth Dividend: Approximately 65% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30. The leadership highlighted this massive youth base as a potential driver of economic progress, provided they receive substantial investments in education, vocational skills, and employment pipelines.
- National Population Council (NPC): The government highlighted the newly established council as the primary mechanism to align federal and provincial family planning policies, smooth out institutional bottlenecks, and execute data-driven reforms.
- Socio-Economic Safety: The Prime Minister emphasized that balanced population growth forms the foundation of a welfare society, ensuring equitable access to housing, food security, and public infrastructure for vulnerable communities.
“This occasion also reminds us of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who championed womens’ rights, dignity and empowerment. She emphasised the vital role of womens’ empowerment, education and reproductive health in national development, and her legacy continues to… pic.twitter.com/0uA4pK6mJC
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 11, 2026
Focus Shifts to Maternal Health and Women’s Empowerment
In a parallel address, President Asif Ali Zardari shifted the focus toward maternal health, nutrition, and female literacy as essential pillars for managing the demographic trajectory.
President Zardari stated that a society cannot achieve genuine stability when mothers face preventable risks during childbirth or when girls are denied basic education. Invoking the foundational vision of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the President reiterated that empowering women financially and socially remains a moral and strategic imperative to convert the country’s vast demographic footprint into an enduring national asset.
