ISLAMABAD — Marking World Population Day, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, strongly emphasized that Pakistan’s greatest asset lies within its people, asserting that targeted investments in human capital form the bedrock of sustainable national growth.

Addressing the country’s steep demographic trajectory, the Minister pointed out that with a surging population of over 241 million growing at an annual rate of 2.55%, the state faces a critical crossroad. He noted that the government aims to aggressively transform this massive demographic expansion into an economic opportunity. This pivot will heavily prioritize quality education, accessible healthcare systems, women’s empowerment, responsible family planning, and robust skills-development programs.

“The future of Pakistan will not be determined by the size of our population, but by the quality of our people,” the Planning Minister stated.

Minister Iqbal reaffirmed that under the direct leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the federal government is fully committed to deploying institutional frameworks like the National Population Council alongside the newly driven “URAAN Pakistan” initiative. These strategic pathways are designed to maximize the nation’s demographic potential to fuel long-term, inclusive economic growth.

The Ministry of Planning reiterated its foundational commitment to engineering a more resilient, healthier, and prosperous nation by ensuring that strategic economic investments are pointed directly toward elevating the productivity and well-being of the Pakistani people.