World Population Day: PM Shehbaz calls for responsible planning to secure Pakistan’s future

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for responsible population planning and coordinated national action to ensure sustainable development, equitable distribution of resources and long-term prosperity.

In his message on World Population Day, observed on July 11, the prime minister said Pakistan joined the international community in renewing its commitment to responsible planning, which he described as essential for population sustainability and social welfare.

“Responsible and wise population planning and management is the foundation of a welfare society,” he said, adding that a population aligned with available resources was vital for fair access to facilities and a prosperous society.

This year’s World Population Day is being marked under the theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” highlighting the central role of youth in shaping a better future.

The prime minister said Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world, had one of the largest youth populations globally. More than 65 percent of the country’s population, he noted, was under the age of 30.

PM Shehbaz described this demographic strength as a valuable national asset and a powerful driver of economic and social development. However, he warned that the country’s annual population growth rate of 2.55pc was also creating major challenges for economic planning, employment generation, education, healthcare, housing, food security, urban infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

National council to guide population policy

PM Shehbaz said continued investment in national resources and a comprehensive strategy were essential to fully benefit from the potential of Pakistan’s young population. He stressed that human welfare and the development of individual capabilities must remain at the centre of the development process.

The prime minister said the federal government had established the National Council for Population to formulate a comprehensive and effective national strategy on population and development.

According to him, the high-level forum would ensure policy coordination between federal and provincial governments and strengthen institutional linkages for better planning.

He said the council would provide policy guidance for the implementation of the national population programme and support timely decision-making in line with national priorities.

The prime minister added that the council’s key priorities included integrating population issues into the national development agenda, empowering women, developing human resources and supporting evidence-based policy making for long-term socio-economic progress.

He also said the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and other national initiatives were aimed at enabling young people to become skilled, responsible and empowered citizens.

Collective action urged

PM Shehbaz said all citizens, particularly vulnerable segments of society, deserved special attention in access to services and future planning. He said the education, health, economic inclusion and equal opportunities of women and girls were among the government’s priorities.

He urged federal and provincial governments, parliamentarians, development partners, civil society, universities, the private sector, religious scholars, media and local communities to play their role in promoting informed population-related decisions, responsible parenting, gender equality and sustainable development.

“The challenges linked to population cannot be addressed without the joint efforts of the government and all sections of society,” he said.

The prime minister said that through collective resolve and shared action, Pakistan could create an environment where every citizen had equal opportunities to live a healthy, dignified and productive life.

He added that coordinated efforts could help transform Pakistan’s demographic potential into lasting national strength and secure a stronger, more stable, prosperous and developed future for present and coming generations.