THE recent Pakistan Population Summit organised by DawnMedia laid it out plainly: the country cannot keep growing at its current pace. We stand at more than 241m people and numbers are expected to cross 330m by 2050. Pakistan is hurtling towards a future it is not even remotely prepared for. Experts at the summit did not mince their words, calling the situation a “ticking time bomb” and warning that the country is on the brink of a “demographic disaster” if it continues to delay action.

Discussions highlighted how this rapid growth is already affecting everyday life. Pakistan sees around 4.5m births each year, putting huge pressure on hospitals that often lack enough beds, medicines or skilled staff. Schools struggle with........

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