The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) and Government College University Lahore, in collaboration with Mahbub-ul-Haq Centre at LUMS, Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) and the International Growth Centre (IGC), organized a session of its Lahore Policy Exchange on “Population Growth and the Demographic Dividend”.

The session was held on Friday, 13th March from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at the Government College University, Lahore. Pakistan has the highest population growth rate in South Asia standing at around 2.4% according to the population census of 2017 and a population of around 207 million. It is one of the youngest countries in the world: 64% of the country’s population is under the age of 29. What is needed is a higher number of high-value jobs that will be performed by a workforce whose human development levels match international standards. Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ties in with the aim to accommodate Pakistan’s youth bulge through inclusive formation and access of the workforce to economic opportunities. In order to sustainably reap the demographic dividend, it is necessary to take a long-term view towards population growth.

To discuss Pakistan’s strategy for controlling population growth and harnessing its youth bulge, the following panelists were invited:

Dr. Attiya Inayatullah – Former Federal Minister for Population and Women’s Development and President Emeritus Family Planning Association of Pakistan;

Mr. Aamir Jan – Secretary, Population Welfare, Government of Punjab – In his place, Mr. Akhter Bhatti, Assistant DG, Population & Welfare, came;

Mr. Jawad Qureshi – CEO, Punjab Population Innovation Fund (PPIF);

Ms. Ambreen Raza – Secretary, Women Development and former Secretary, Population Welfare, Government of Punjab – In her place, Ms. Norish Imran, Director, Women Development Department, came.

The session was moderated by Dr. Asghar Zaidi, Vice Chancellor, Government College University (GCU).