'Population boom now a security issue'

UNFPA calls for coordinated action by political, military and religious leaders

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan's rapidly growing population is no longer merely a health or economic challenge but has emerged as a matter of national security requiring coordinated action from the country's political, military, religious and social leadership, UNFPA Pakistan Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh said while addressing a media briefing here on Monday, ahead of World Population Day 2026.

He shared the findings of a global report titled Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and What Shapes Their Decisions About Relationships and Parenthood. The report, he said, is based on responses from more than 100,000 young people aged 18-39 across 73 countries, including over 1,700 respondents from Pakistan.

The findings come at a time when Pakistan's population has reached around 257.2 million, with nearly one-third of its citizens aged between 10 and 24 years, making investment in youth essential for the country's future stability and prosperity, Dr Shabaneh said.

Elaborating on the key challenges and opportunities contributing to greater awareness among young people regarding family planning, informed relationship choices, parenthood, marriage and children, Dr Shabaneh said it was time for Pakistan to grow rich and prosperous before its population grows old.

He also welcomed the government's renewed focus on population management, particularly appreciating Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for personally chairing the National Population Council (NPC). He noted that the inclusion of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in the national body reflects that population management has become a strategic national priority extending beyond the health sector to encompass economic resilience, social cohesion and national security.

He emphasised that sustainable population management cannot be achieved through government departments alone. Parliamentarians, provincial legislators, religious scholars and community leaders have a decisive role in promoting responsible parenthood, birth spacing, girls' education and awareness while dispelling misconceptions surrounding reproductive health. Their collective engagement, he said, is vital to addressing one of Pakistan's most pressing long-term challenges.

Dr Shabaneh said the report highlights that young people across the world aspire to meaningful lives, stable relationships and families but increasingly face economic uncertainty, housing shortages, insecurity, gender inequality and climate-related concerns that influence their decisions regarding marriage and parenthood.

According to the Pakistan findings, 76 per cent of respondents expressed optimism about the future despite mounting challenges. However, 53 per cent cited conflict and security risks, economic insecurity, inequality, health concerns and environmental threats among their major worries.

The survey also revealed a gap between the number of children people currently have and the number they ideally desire. Women in Pakistan have an average of 1.8 children but would prefer 2.5, while men reported an average of 2.5 children and ideally wanted 3.4. Among Pakistanis aged 35-39 without children, 65 per cent said they would like to become parents.

Dr Shabaneh stressed that reproductive decisions are shaped by real-life circumstances rather than fertility targets alone. Young people identified financial security, stable employment, housing, emotional readiness, healthcare, gender equality and access to quality public services as the key conditions needed before starting families. He underlined that Pakistan's youthful population represents an enormous opportunity if equipped with education, skills and employment. Otherwise, the country risks missing its demographic dividend.

Highlighting the growing importance of digital connectivity, Dr Shabaneh said internet access has become a gateway to education, employment, information and civic participation. Expanding digital inclusion, especially for girls, rural youth and marginalised communities, is essential for unlocking Pakistan's economic potential, particularly as the country already hosts one of the world's largest young freelance workforces, he said.