Beyond headcounts: Population policy must focus on youth aspirations

This year's World Population Day theme, 'Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people, today and for the future,' calls for a fundamental shift in how governments approach population policy. Instead of focusing solely on numbers like growth rates and fertility, the emphasis is now on empowering individuals, particularly young people, to make informed choices about their lives.

Experience demonstrates that enabling these choices hinges on improving access to quality healthcare, education, economic security, and gender equality. When these conditions are met, demographic outcomes naturally improve. Therefore, population policy should be viewed as a means to expand people's freedoms and opportunities, rather than merely managing demographic trends.

This perspective is particularly relevant for Pakistan, where public discourse often centers on census figures and fertility rates. While these concerns are valid, they can overshadow the critical question of whether young Pakistanis can actually realize their aspirations. For millions, the answer remains 'no,' as barriers begin early and persist throughout life.

Barriers include children leaving school prematurely, leading to diminished prospects, and young adults facing a labor market unable to provide sufficient stable employment. Many women still encounter obstacles in education, healthcare, and participation in decisions affecting their futures. Reproductive healthcare and family planning services are also unevenly available, limiting informed choices. These shortcomings, stemming from governance failures, impact individuals, families, communities, and the nation's long-term development, resulting in lost economic potential, diminished public trust, and a sense of limited opportunity among youth.