Pakistan’s young population can become the country’s greatest economic strength if equipped with quality education, modern skills and dignified employment opportunities, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said, warning that the same demographic advantage could otherwise become a source of economic and social strain.
Addressing the launch of Development Advocate Pakistan’s 50th issue, Iqbal said the country stands at a defining moment where policy continuity, investment in human capital and evidence-based planning are indispensable for sustainable growth.
Pakistan’s population has surpassed 241.5 million and is now approaching 260 million, Iqbal said, citing census data. If current trends continue, the population is projected to reach between 372 and 390 million by 2050. Nearly 67% of Pakistan’s population is under 30, making the country’s youth its greatest national asset.
However, Iqbal stressed that demographics do not determine destiny; sound public policy does. He expressed concern that millions of children remain out of school, while a large proportion of young people, particularly women, remain outside education, employment and skills training.
“Pakistan is currently passing through a critical demographic dividend window,” he said, adding that the country must invest in quality education, technical training, digital skills and employment generation to capitalise on this opportunity.
The minister highlighted that Pakistan’s development trajectory has repeatedly suffered due to lack of policy continuity. Major national initiatives require 10 to 15 years of consistent implementation, but successive government changes have often resulted in replacement of policy frameworks, preventing initiatives such as Vision 2020 and Vision 2025 from achieving their intended outcomes.
Iqbal said the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative and the 5Es National Development Framework provide integrated strategies to address structural challenges through comprehensive reforms. He announced that under URAAN Pakistan, one million young people will be trained as “Ambassadors of Social Change” to lead awareness campaigns on education, health, population management and environmental protection. The minister also highlighted public health challenges, noting that more than 10 million Pakistanis are living with Hepatitis C. He announced that the federal government has decided to make Islamabad and adjoining areas Hepatitis-free, with similar initiatives extended to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneOur CorrespondentRead More