ISLAMABAD: With over half of its population in the working-age group and more than a quarter in the youth bracket, Pakistan is standing at a demographic crossroads.
The Economic Survey 2024–25 lays bare both the enormous potential and the urgent responsibility to transform this youthful momentum into sustainable economic progress.
The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024–25 has spotlighted a powerful demographic trend, revealing that 26% of the population falls within the youth bracket of 15 to 29 years, while 53.8% are within the working-age group of 15 to 59 years.
This significant youth majority presents a transformative opportunity for economic growth, provided it is effectively harnessed through strategic investments in education, technological advancement, and skills development.
The survey, released on Monday, highlights Pakistan’s growing population, which now stands at 241.5 million, as per the Seventh Population and Housing Census (2023).
The figure includes 124.3 million males and 117.2 million females, further underscoring the country’s evolving social and economic landscape.
With this expanding workforce, the government is racing against time to translate potential into progress.
Programs like the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme and the “Skills for All” initiative are central to this effort.
These schemes aim to spark entrepreneurship, deliver vocational training, and cultivate digital fluency, laying the foundation for a modern, self-sufficient workforce.
In a bid to ease domestic employment pressure, the government is also intensifying efforts to secure overseas job opportunities, not only to reduce unemployment at home but also to enhance remittance inflows, a critical pillar of the national economy.
Beyond numbers and economics, the Economic Survey reiterates Pakistan’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive growth.
As an original signatory to global human rights frameworks like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and CEDAW, Pakistan is pushing forward on its promise to eliminate discrimination against women and ensure their active role in national development.
The newly introduced Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package 2024 is a bold step in this direction.
The nationwide initiative is designed to open doors for women, offering access to microfinance, training, and leadership opportunities—so they can lead not just in households, but in boardrooms, businesses, and beyond.
Together, these initiatives form a national vision rooted in equity and progress. The Economic Survey 2024–25 presents a narrative of immense potential, backed by a vibrant youth population and a renewed focus on gender empowerment.
But turning promise into performance will require sustained investment, inclusive policies, and a relentless commitment to developing the human capital that can carry Pakistan into a brighter future.
