ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday termed Pakistan’s annual population growth rate of 2.55 per cent, an alarming trend requiring immediate and coordinated policy action at the national level to address the issue.
The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office to review the challenges posed by Pakistan’s rising population and to deliberate on effective strategies to manage it, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
“We need comprehensive planning to ensure our growing population, especially the youth, becomes a productive part of the economy,” he stressed. “A large segment of our population comprises young people, who are the most valuable asset for our country.”
He emphasized that the government was taking several initiatives to empower the youth and integrate them into the country’s economic mainstream. “Opportunities are being created to enable our youth to play a central role in national development,” he added.
Speaking on gender inclusion, PM Shehbaz underlined the critical importance of women’s participation in the workforce. “Women constitute a significant portion of our human capital. We must ensure greater employment opportunities for them,” he directed.
The Prime Minister instructed the formation of a committee to develop a comprehensive and effective national policy, in close collaboration with provincial governments. “A unified and strategic response is the need of the hour,” he asserted, calling for a coordinated federal-provincial framework to tackle population-related issues.
He also stressed the importance of launching a nationwide awareness campaign to educate citizens about the implications of unchecked population growth, especially in the context of sustainable economic development.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on various proposals and recommendations to manage population growth. Officials stressed that any long-term solution would require active provincial collaboration and public engagement at the grassroots level.
The meeting was participated by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, along with senior officials from relevant institutions.
LHC CJ Mian Allah Nawaz
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed grief over the demise of former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Mian Allah Nawaz.
The prime minister, in a statement, said that late Justice Mian Allah Nawaz rendered valuable services to the judiciary.
“In this hour of grief, all our sympathies are with the family of the deceased,” the prime minister said and prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family to bear the loss.
