Rapid population growth in this South Asian country has long been an alarming whistle as Pakistan deals with its fair share of resource scarcity, mounting climate vulnerabilities, gender inequality, poverty and widespread illiteracy — all amidst still high fertility rates. Purely on paper, the country is not well equipped to serve its mammoth population. But the population is relatively young, with an average age of 25.6 years and a steadily improving trend in labour market participation.
This means that despite the problem of brain drain, Pakistan still has an active and skilled youth force at its disposal and if effectively trained, the country can leverage its population to be “a strategic driver of sustainable and inclusive development”, as said by UNFPA Pakistan. The organisation also underlined the need to not view its population reality as a burden but rather as an opportunity, and to keep this reality at the forefront of future decisions regarding national planning and financing.
Therefore, it is important that going forward, Pakistan adopts a positive approach towards progress and concentrates its administrative responsibilities and fund allocation towards goals that offer long-term relief as opposed to short-term fixes — something that has been a persistent problem. This is the only way the country can meaningfully stabilise itself against the test of time that is bound to bring resource challenges, climate disasters and an inequitable socioeconomic environment.