Pakistan urges for ‘unified national response’ to population growth

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called for a “united national effort” to address Pakistan’s rapidly growing population, urging all stakeholders to treat population planning as a “shared national responsibility” essential for sustainable development, economic prosperity and the wellbeing of future generations.

In their separate messages on World Population Day, observed this year under the theme “Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People, Today and for the Future,” the two leaders stressed the need for informed decision-making, responsible parenthood, gender equality and coordinated policies to harness Pakistan’s demographic potential while addressing the challenges posed by rapid population growth.

The prime minister urged the federal and provincial governments, members of parliament, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector, religious scholars, the media and local communities to recognise the urgency of population growth as a national issue and fulfil their shared responsibility by promoting informed decision-making, responsible parenthood, gender equality and sustainable development.

In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said World Population Day provided an important opportunity to highlight the significance of population issues at the global level.

He said this year’s theme underscored the pivotal role of young people in shaping a prosperous future, adding that creating an enabling environment for the younger generation was a collective responsibility.

-Pakistan Today