ISLAMABAD: World Population Day is being celebrated today across the globe, including Pakistan, but for the country, the occasion serves as a stark reminder of a mounting crisis as its rapidly growing population continues to outpace available resources.
Experts have raised serious concerns over the current growth trajectory, warning that if the population continues to expand at its present rate, Pakistan will become the fifth most populous country in the world within the next 24 years.
According to official reports, Pakistan’s population has already surged past 240 million, with a staggering 64 percent of the population under the age of 30. By 2050, this number is expected to reach approximately 390 million, placing immense strain on the country’s already fragile infrastructure and economy.
The Planning Commission report paints a concerning picture, revealing that Pakistan’s annual population growth rate stands at 2.55 percent, with an average of 3.6 children per woman. Approximately 6.8 million children are born in the country every year, a figure that continues to rise unchecked.
The human cost of this rapid growth is devastating. Every year, 11,000 mothers lose their lives during childbirth, while 20,000 newborns die within their first month of life. Additionally, 40 percent of children suffer from stunting due to malnutrition, a crisis that has long-term implications for the nation’s human capital.
The report further highlights that the increasing population is exacerbating problems related to water scarcity, healthcare, education, and employment. Providing education, employment, and training to the country’s youth has become a major challenge, with 26 million children currently out of school. Meanwhile, 2 to 2.5 million young people enter the working-age population every year, but the economy is struggling to absorb them.
Economic experts warn that every one percent increase in population leads to a decrease of Rs 35,000 per year in per capita income. To effectively absorb new entrants into the workforce, Pakistan would require a GDP growth rate of 6 to 7 percent, a target that remains elusive amid current economic conditions.
Experts have called for solid planning and immediate action to curb population growth, warning that without decisive measures, it will be nearly impossible to achieve national goals related to health, education, employment, and overall economic stability.
