In 1951, Pakistan conducted its first-ever population census shortly after independence. The fledgling nation’s population stood at approximately 33.8 million. This number, though modest by today’s standards, was manageable for a country just beginning its journey. At that time, Pakistan had the opportunity, resources, and public will to build institutions and infrastructure to support its people’s growth and aspirations. Fast forward to 2023, and the latest digital census reveals a staggering figure: over 241 million people call Pakistan home today. This is a sevenfold increase in less than 75 years. Projections paint an even grimmer picture; by 2050, Pakistan’s population could swell to 396 million, making it the world’s fourth most populous country, surpassing even the United States.

This growth rate is unprecedented and alarming. To put it into perspective, the population in 1951 was just over 33 million. By 1998, the population had crossed the 130 million mark, nearly quadrupling in less than five decades. The leap from 1998 to 2023 added more than 110 million people in just 25 years, a sign of the accelerating population explosion. If this pace continues, the country will add another 150 million people by 2050-an addition equivalent to the entire population of Russia today.

Numbers alone do not capture the immense pressure such rapid growth exerts on a nation.

Numbers alone do not capture the immense pressure such rapid growth exerts on a nation. Pakistan faces severe challenges in providing adequate health care, education, clean water, food security, housing, and employment for its growing masses. Nearly 40 per cent of children in Pakistan suffer from some form of malnutrition, with 26 million children out of school-more than the entire population of Australia. Women’s participation in the workforce remains critically low, at just about 20 per cent, limiting economic potential and perpetuating cycles of poverty.

Urbanisation trends further exacerbate these issues. Pakistan’s cities have grown rapidly but chaotically, with almost 30 per cent of urban residents living in informal settlements or slums, lacking access to basic services like sanitation, electricity, and clean water. The........

© Daily Times