This World Population Day’s global theme—“Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people: today and for the future”—offers Pakistan an opportunity to reflect on one of the most important questions facing the country: how can we ensure that our young people inherit a future full of opportunity rather than one constrained by mounting social and economic pressures?
Pakistan is often described as a young nation, and rightly so. Millions of young Pakistanis aspire to become doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and innovators. Their ambitions are not very different from those of young people elsewhere in the world.
Yet the path to achieving these aspirations is becoming increasingly challenging. Rapid population growth continues to exert pressure on nearly every sector of national development. A discussion about population, therefore, is ultimately a discussion about whether Pakistan can create sufficient opportunities for its young people or not.
The numbers are sobering. Pakistan’s population growth rate stands at 2.55 percent, one of the highest in the region. The country’s total fertility rate remains 3.6 children per woman, the highest among South Asian countries. As a result, demand for public services continues to grow at a pace that is difficult to match. According to national estimates, Pakistan will require an additional 104 million jobs and 15.5 million houses by 2040 to meet the needs of its expanding population.
Despite significant efforts by governments and development partners, around 25 million children between the ages of 5 and 16 remain out of school, with girls disproportionately affected. To address future demand, Pakistan will need approximately 57,000 additional primary schools by 2040.
A large youth population can be a tremendous advantage. Economists often describe this as a demographic dividend—a period during which a country can accelerate economic growth through a productive and skilled workforce. However, such a dividend is not automatic. It materialises only when young people are educated, healthy, and equipped with opportunities to participate meaningfully in the economy.
This is why conversations about youth aspirations must also include conversations about family wellbeing.
Research shows that when families are able to make informed decisions about the timing and spacing of births, positive outcomes follow. Pakistan continues to face significant reproductive health challenges. Nearly 18 percent of couples have an unmet need for family planning, meaning they wish to delay or avoid pregnancy but are unable to do so. The country records approximately 11,000 maternal deaths annually, while infant mortality remains high at 62 deaths per 1,000 live births. Evidence indicates that increasing contraceptive use could save thousands of mothers and infants every year.
It is in this context that the Waqfa Campaign, launched by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Foundation (MKRF) in partnership with Population Council Pakistan, assumes particular importance. The campaign promotes Waqfa, a culturally and religiously acceptable concept that encourages healthy spacing between births.
The significance of Waqfa lies in its ability to connect family wellbeing with broader development goals. Rather than focusing solely on population numbers, the campaign emphasises healthier mothers, healthier children, improved educational opportunities, and stronger families. It frames birth spacing not as a limitation but as a means of providing every child with the attention, care, and opportunities they deserve.
For young people, this message matters. Every child deserves a strong start in life. Every young person deserves access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and opportunities that enable them to reach their full potential. When parents are empowered to make informed choices, they are often better positioned to support the aspirations of their children. In this way, family wellbeing becomes a cornerstone of youth development.
By engaging media, healthcare professionals, religious scholars, policymakers, and communities, Waqfa Campaign is encouraging greater awareness about the links between family wellbeing, sustainable population growth, and national development. Such dialogue is essential if Pakistan is to address its demographic challenges while maximising the potential of its young population.
As we mark World Population Day, the focus should remain firmly on people rather than numbers. The central question is not how many young people Pakistan has; it is whether those young people will have the opportunities needed to achieve their dreams.
By supporting healthier families through initiatives such as Waqfa, we can help ensure that every child is given a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed. In doing so, we will not merely manage population growth; we will unlock the immense potential of a generation and build a more prosperous future for all.
—The writer is the Manager Communication at the Population Council.
