ISLAMABAD, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that his country needs to strike a balance between resources and population size to stimulate economic growth, enhance living standards, and alleviate poverty.
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 growing population, the prime minister said in his message on World Population Day being observed here Thursday.
He said that the population of Pakistan, currently estimated at over 240 million, is experiencing a high growth rate of 2.55 percent, adding that the country's population is projected to reach 263 million by 2030, and 383 million by 2050.
"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.
Talking about the huge youth bulge of Pakistan, with over 65 percent of the population being under 30 years of age, the prime minister noted that the demographic composition presents both opportunities and challenges for the country.
"On the one hand, the youth of Pakistan holds 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 said that Pakistan is fully committed to its endeavors 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. ■
