Federal Finance Minister and Senator Mohammad Orangzeb has warned that Pakistan faces serious challenges from rapid population growth and climate change, urging immediate action to control population and promote sustainable development.
Speaking at an event organized by the Population Council in Islamabad, Orangzeb said that unchecked population growth contributes to poverty and strains national resources. “Population and the economy are interconnected challenges. Sustainable economic growth requires a balanced population,” he remarked.
He noted that Pakistan’s current GDP growth falls short of meeting the 2.5% annual population growth, which is higher than neighboring countries. About 40% of children in the country suffer from malnutrition, particularly in districts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he added.
Highlighting urban-rural disparities, Orangzeb said that informal settlements in cities face issues such as lack of clean water, health services, and child stunting, and stressed the need for family planning to manage population growth.
On climate change, he warned that Pakistan is increasingly vulnerable to floods, droughts, and other disasters, and called for promoting an environment-friendly economy. He also highlighted that informal settlements are largely unrecorded, complicating policy and development planning.
Orangzeb concluded by noting that Pakistan’s economy is on a positive trajectory, thanks to the IMF program and structural reforms, which are helping improve the country’s financial outlook.
