In separate remarks released on the occasion of World Population Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable population increase, youth empowerment and human development.

In his message, President Zardari said that Pakistan’s young is the country’s greatest asset and the key to a brighter future, adding that investment in education, skills development and employment opportunities is crucial for national prosperity.

He also stressed the importance of prioritizing maternal and child health and nutrition, stating that genuine national development cannot be achieved without empowering women. The president paid respect to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for her historic contributions to women’s rights and empowerment.

Zardari said that there was a close relationship between population and development and called for more investment in education and health care. He urged the government, parliament, civil society, religious scholars, media and other institutions to join hands to convert Pakistan’s demographic potential into national prosperity and human development.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was reaffirming its commitment to prudent population planning to ensure sustainable development and shared prosperity.

Citing this year’s World Population Day theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” the prime minister said the occasion highlighted the essential role young people play in determining the country’s future.

He said Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world with over 65 percent of its population below the age of 30. He stated, however, that the yearly population growth rate of 2.55 percent posed serious problems to education, health, employment, housing, food security, infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the federal government has established the National Population Council to coordinate policies between the federation and the provinces, oversee the implementation of the national population programme and facilitate fast decisions.

The Prime Minister further said that the government was stressing education, healthcare, economic inclusion and equal opportunity for women and girls, while programs like the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme were helping produce empowered, talented and responsible young citizens.

He also called for the cooperation of federal and provincial governments, parliament, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector, religious scholars, the media and local communities in promoting responsible parenthood, gender equality and sustainable development while addressing population-related challenges.