Bangkok: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, announced the establishment of a National Population Council during the World Bank’s roundtable focused on “Transforming Demographic Transition into Human Capital Gains and Job Creation.” The event took place alongside the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the need to address Pakistan’s rapid population growth, highlighting its impact on health, education, and employment sectors.

According to Press Information Department, the Finance Minister drew on the experiences of countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Iran, identifying women’s education, workforce participation, and engagement with religious leaders on birth spacing as priorities. The council, to be led by the Prime Minister, aims for coordinated federal and provincial action, sustained political commitment, and measurable outcomes to unify fragmented initiatives under a cohesive framework, thereby transforming demographic transitions into enhanced human capital and employment opportunities.

Minister Aurangzeb further stressed that realizing Pakistan’s demographic dividend requires the development of a skilled workforce and growth driven by the private sector to create jobs. He identified freelancing, IT-enabled services, and digital skills as avenues to increase youth earnings and export potential. An integrated approach linking population, health, education, and employment is necessary to achieve these goals.