Shafaqna Pakistan | by AK Haq- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb sounded a stark but necessary warning this week when he said, “Pakistan’s economic future depends on how effectively it can manage its rapidly growing population and escalating climate threats.” His words were not an abstract caution, they were a diagnosis of a nation already brushing against the iceberg. Without immediate course correction, the slow, predictable sinking has already begun.
With 241 million people, Pakistan is now the world’s fifth-most populous country. Some view this vast population as a potential asset, but even a brief look at our overstretched systems raises urgent questions. Can we secure the land, water, food and employment needed to sustain such numbers? By 2030, the UN projects our population may grow to 263 million.
Every child born into poverty intensifies the pressure on public schools, overloaded clinics, and fragile welfare systems. Yet family planning remains an afterthought: Balochistan has allocated only Rs120 million to the issue this year, even as maternal mortality, malnutrition and lack of access to reproductive health services remain among the worst in the country.
Climate change is worsening the crisis. Although Pakistan contributes barely 1% of global emissions, it is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. The devastation of 2022 floods that swallowed one-third of the country, displaced millions and caused nearly $30 billion in damages remains fresh in our collective memory.
This year’s monsoon brought another tragedy, killing more than 1,000 people and adding $2.9 billion in agricultural and infrastructure losses. With agriculture still employing over 40% of the workforce, every climate shock cuts directly into national income and food security. Repeated cycles of flood, drought and heatwave have eroded resilience, destroyed livelihoods, and strained a fiscal system already stretched to the limit.
The country’s youth could serve as a demographic dividend—if they were healthy and educated. Instead, Pakistan faces a generational emergency. Nearly 40% of children under age five are chronically stunted. UNICEF estimates that 22.8 million children between 5 and 16 are out of school, representing one of the world’s largest out-of-school populations.
Even for those who attend school, learning outcomes are poor and dropout rates remain high. Economic growth will mean little if half the future workforce lacks basic literacy and adequate nutrition.
Still, the conversation is beginning to shift. The parliamentary forum in Balochistan has formally urged all provinces to implement the Council of Common Interests’ population resolutions. The Council of Islamic Ideology’s recent emphasis on Tawazzun, balance between population and resources shows that thoughtful family planning can be framed within cultural and religious norms.
Punjab’s decision to merge its population welfare department into its health structure, and Sindh’s appointment of a dedicated population welfare minister, are steps in the right direction. But these are baby steps at best. Pakistan has acknowledged the what and why of the crisis; it has yet to decide the how.
What is required now is serious legislation: a national population policy with real authority behind it. Not coercive measures, but sustained investment in family planning, girls’ education, maternal health, rural clinics, and sanitation. These are not optional reforms—they are the foundation of stability. As Minister Aurangzeb reminded the nation, “Pakistan cannot repeatedly seek international appeals or borrow for every challenge.”
The time for talk has passed. The state must assume responsibility, set firm priorities and begin the long, difficult, but essential task of putting its house in order. Pakistan’s future depends on choices made today and delays will only deepen the cost of inaction.
Source: Shafaqna Pakistan
Note: Shafaqna do not endorse the views expressed in the article