Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday called for a national consensus on population planning and stressed the need to harness Pakistan's growing youth population through greater investment in education, healthcare and skills development.

Addressing a ceremony marking World Population Day 2026, the Chairman Senate said Pakistan's rapidly growing population represented both a challenge and an opportunity, noting that more than 65 per cent of the country's population is under the age of 30.

He described the country's youth as a valuable demographic dividend that could only be fully utilized through sustained investment in human capital.

Gilani observed that rapid population growth was placing increasing pressure on healthcare, education, employment, water resources and the environment. He emphasized that population planning should form an integral part of Pakistan's broader economic and development strategy.

He described family planning as essential for improving maternal and child health, reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development, adding that Parliament would continue to support legislation, policy initiatives and parliamentary oversight aimed at promoting responsible population planning.

The Chairman Senate called upon political and religious leaders, civil society organizations and the media to play an active role in raising public awareness and addressing misconceptions about family planning, describing it as a shared national responsibility.

He also appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of National Health Services, provincial governments, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and development partners in promoting population planning initiatives.

Expressing confidence in continued collaboration among all stakeholders, Gilani said Pakistan could transform its growing population into a powerful driver of national progress and economic prosperity through coordinated and sustained efforts.