Key Points
- Call made for coordinated national action
- Remarks made at World Population Day event
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan aims to halve its population growth rate by 2035, stressing that sustainable population management is essential for the country’s development.
Addressing an event marking World Population Day, the prime minister said Pakistan’s rapidly growing population is a significant challenge. It obstructs education, healthcare, employment and resource allocation. The government is committed to pursuing policies that support family planning and improve public awareness, he added.
Shehbaz said achieving the 2035 target would require coordinated efforts by federal and provincial governments, development partners, civil society and the private sector.
He stressed the need to expand access to reproductive health services and strengthen programmes to empower women and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Pakistan among the most populous countries
Pakistan remains among the world’s most populous countries, with demographic pressures continuing to weigh on public services and economic planning.
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Experts have long argued that slowing population growth could help improve living standards and accelerate progress toward broader development goals.
The prime minister said the government’s population agenda would be aligned with national development priorities and international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to health, gender equality and poverty reduction.
Pakistan’s population is estimated at approximately 259 million in 2026, making it the world’s fifth most populous country.
According to World Bank data, Pakistan’s annual population growth rate stood at about 1.56 per cent in 2025, equivalent to an increase of roughly four million people each year.
Although the pace of growth has slowed from levels exceeding 2 per cent in previous decades, demographic pressures continue to strain public services, including education, healthcare, housing and employment opportunities.
