Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said a national policy be formed along-with the provinces to deal with growing population and problems emanating from it.

He was chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday regarding the impact of rising population on development..

PM said population growth rate is 2.55 percent per year. Planning is needed for development of fast growing population and making it active part of national economy.

He held youths constitute major part of population. Youths are very important and precious asset of our country. Several steps are being taken to provide opportunity to youths to play their role in development of economy.

He said women are major part of our manpower. Steps be taken to provide maximum opportunities of jobs to women.

He stressed that effective strategy be evolved in collaboration with provinces to deal with problems of growing population.

PM directed to form committee to work out effective policy and strategy.

Meeting was attended by minister for planning Ahsan Iqbal, education minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, information minister Atta Ullah Tarar, Minister for religious affairs Sardar Muhammad Yusuf Khan, Law minister Azam Nazir Tarar and others.