Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb warned that rapid population growth is a major obstacle to Pakistan’s economic recovery. He said the economy is improving under the IMF programme but faces long-term structural challenges. Climate change and high population growth, he added, threaten sustainable development.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s population growth rate of 2.5% per year. He called this pace incompatible with sustainable economic progress. He said high population growth strains national resources, public services, and future planning. Economic reforms alone cannot deliver lasting prosperity without addressing demographic pressures.
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The minister also stressed the impact of climate change on Pakistan’s economy. He described the country as one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. Climate risks, he said, compound the challenges posed by population growth and must be addressed urgently for long-term resilience.
Aurangzeb noted that population growth affects Pakistan’s carbon footprint, even though the country is not a major global emitter. He explained that slower population growth would proportionally reduce carbon emissions, highlighting the link between demographics and environmental sustainability.
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He concluded that coordinated national policies, public awareness, and long-term planning are essential. Economic reforms, he emphasized, must go hand in hand with population control and climate mitigation measures. Only then can Pakistan secure lasting economic stability and sustainable development.