The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with Population Council Pakistan, convened a high-level roundtable of security and policy experts to examine population growth and its security implications for Pakistan. Speakers warned that Pakistan’s population, which crossed 256 million in 2025 with a growth rate above 2.1 percent, presents risks that go beyond mere numbers when growth outstrips the state’s capacity to deliver health, education, employment, housing, water and energy.
Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir, Senior Director, Programs and Research at Population Council Pakistan, framed population growth as central to national security, stressing that rapid expansion can turn a youth bulge into a demographic liability by eroding human capital, social cohesion and governance capacity. He urged policymakers to treat population balance as a strategic priority rooted in rights, responsibilities and resources, and to expand voluntary access to family planning.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of ISSI’s Board of Governors, drew attention to the broader consequences of unchecked demographic pressure, including rising demand for food, water and energy and accelerating urbanization. Citing regional examples from Asia, he highlighted that sustained investments in education, health and family planning can transform demographic challenges into developmental opportunities and improve Pakistan’s resilience and competitiveness.
Mr. Ali Mazhar of the Population Council outlined Pakistan’s key trends such as high fertility, a large youth cohort, many out-of-school children, low female labour force participation and stark regional disparities, particularly in Balochistan. He introduced the Tawazun or Balance narrative, which promotes informed voluntary family decisions, universal access to family planning, and alignment between population growth and national resources.
Dr. Neelum Nigar of ISSI’s Centre for Strategic Perspectives described population growth as a risk multiplier that intensifies human security pressures where governance capacity lags, undermining state legitimacy and heightening instability in peripheral regions. She noted that while Pakistan’s National Security Policy adopts a human-centric approach, implementation gaps, policy incoherence and institutional constraints remain major hurdles.
In a moderated discussion led by Dr. Saima Zubair, Air Marshal (Retd.) Farhat Hussain warned that large numbers of out-of-school and unemployed youth increase vulnerability to instability and extremism, and called for people-centred policies prioritising education, health and livelihoods. From a political economy perspective, Mr. Haroon Sharif highlighted the mismatch between demographic pressures and economic capacity, pointing to declining growth, constrained fiscal space and limited job creation, and advocated for depoliticised, evidence-based policymaking and innovative financing for youth employment.
Participants from academia, civil society and research institutions urged a comprehensive human security approach linking population growth to water scarcity, food security, climate vulnerability, urbanisation and irregular migration. They emphasised the need for stronger data systems, better institutional coordination and sustained engagement with religious leaders, media and youth to build a balanced rights-based population discourse. Several speakers reiterated that integrating the Tawazun narrative into development planning and public communication is essential for consensus and resilience.
The roundtable concluded with broad agreement that rapid population growth amplifies Pakistan’s security, governance and development challenges and requires renewed commitment, whole-of-government alignment and strategic foresight. Delegates underscored that population growth is not destiny; policy choices on family planning, education and economic inclusion will determine whether Pakistan’s demographic profile becomes a source of strength or risk.
