ISLAMABAD: Vice President of Pakistan Peoples party and parliamentary leader of the PPP in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman, has sounded alarm over the country’s rapidly rising unemployment and population growth, which is a “ticking time bomb”, warning that these twin challenges pose serious threats to the nation’s economic stability and social cohesion.
“Pakistan’s average GDP growth from 2022–2025 has stood at 1.7 per cent, while population growth is at 2.5 per cent, resulting in a continuous decline in per capita income,” she wrote on social media platform “X” on Tuesday.
Senator Rehman warned that if immediate action was not taken, the pressure on the country’s economy will only intensify.
“Pakistan is facing a demographic time bomb. At least 30 million new jobs will be needed over the next decade,” she said, emphasising that failure to generate employment opportunities could trigger a major crisis.
She noted that the unemployment rate had climbed to 7.1 per cent, the highest in 21 years, while the 2023 census estimates suggest that nearly 22 per cent of the workforce remains unemployed. “Key sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and trade employ over 75 per cent of workers, yet they are struggling to absorb the growing labour force.”
She said high inflation and heavy taxation had further reduced real incomes, exacerbating inequality and creating additional strain on households. “At this pace, Pakistan’s population could reach 400 million, while incomes shrink and youth unemployment drives migration. This is a crisis that demands urgent national attention,” she added.
Sherry Rehman called on policymakers to prioritise employment generation, economic reform, and sustainable population planning to secure the country’s future and ensure that the country’s young and growing workforce can contribute to economic growth.
