Sharif says Pakistan seeks balance btw resources, population for economic growth

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
WASHINGTON DC, 13th July. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif on Friday has said that his country needs to strike a balance between resources and population size to stimulate economic growth, enhance living standards, and alleviate poverty.

Sharif said in his message on World Population Day that in order to create an environment where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive, Pakistan must effectively manage population growth, considering the diverse needs and challenges of a growing population.

He added that the population of Pakistan estimated at more than 240 million is experiencing a high growth rate of 2.55 per cent, adding that the country’s population is projected to reach 263 million by 2030 and 383 million by 2050, media reported.

“We are committed to ensuring that every individual, community, and voice from across Pakistan is taken into consideration in our policies and programs through inclusive data, as it enables us to identify the areas where we need to focus our efforts, ranging from healthcare and education to economic opportunities and social protection,” he said.

He talked about the huge youth bulge of Pakistan, with more than 65 per cent of the population being under 30 years of age, Sharif noted that the demographic composition presents both opportunities and challenges for the country.

“On the one hand, the youth of Pakistan hold immense potential to drive economic growth, innovation, and social progress. On the other hand, the large youth population also poses challenges in terms of education, employment, and social integration,” he said.

Sharif added that Pakistan is fully committed to its endeavours of providing quality education and skills training to this young generation to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy, adding that the government is creating sufficient job opportunities for the youth to harness their potential and turn this youth bulge into an asset.