Finance Minister Urges Pakistan to Turn Population Growth into Economic Opportunity

Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has described rapid population growth as a major challenge for the country’s healthcare, education and employment systems, stressing the need to turn demographic growth into stronger human capital and greater economic opportunities.

Addressing a roundtable conference organised by the World Bank, Muhammad Aurangzeb said greater awareness was needed about appropriate birth spacing and population-related issues. He also highlighted the importance of engaging religious scholars in awareness efforts, while calling for greater participation of women in education and the workforce.

The finance minister said the government had established a National Population Council under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He stressed that the federal and provincial governments would need to work together on population, health, education and employment policies to address the challenges associated with rapid population growth.

According to Aurangzeb, Pakistan can benefit economically from its growing population by developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting the needs of both domestic and international markets. He said new employment opportunities should be created through private-sector-led initiatives, with greater emphasis on skills development and productive participation in the economy.

He also identified freelancing and information technology services as important opportunities for increasing young people’s incomes. Expanding digital skills, he said, could help Pakistan increase its exports and enable more young people to participate in the global digital economy.

The minister emphasised that addressing the challenges associated with Pakistan population growth would require sustained government attention as well as measurable, data-driven results. Better coordination among institutions and continued investment in education, healthcare and workforce development would be important for converting demographic pressures into economic gains.

Aurangzeb also held a meeting with the International Finance Corporation’s Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia. During the meeting, discussions focused on strengthening IFC cooperation to promote private-sector-led economic growth and expand employment opportunities in Pakistan.

The discussions underline the government’s broader focus on increasing private-sector participation and creating jobs alongside efforts to address demographic challenges. With a large and growing working-age population, Pakistan faces both pressure on public services and an opportunity to expand its productive workforce.

The finance minister’s remarks placed human capital development, women’s participation, digital skills and private-sector employment at the centre of efforts to make population growth economically beneficial for the country.