By Sardar Khan Niazi

Few issues generate as much debate in developing countries as population growth. Is a rising population a blessing that fuels economic dynamism, or a burden that strains already fragile systems? The answer lies not in numbers alone, but in how nations prepare for them. On one hand, population growth can be an undeniable economic asset. Countries such as China and India transformed large populations into engines of productivity. A growing workforce expands the tax base, stimulates demand for goods and services, and encourages entrepreneurship. When accompanied by investments in education, healthcare and skills training, population growth can produce what economists call a “demographic dividend” — a period when the working-age population outnumbers dependents, boosting economic output. For countries like Pakistan, where over 60 per cent of the population is under 30, the potential is enormous. Youthful societies are often more adaptable, innovative and energetic. If provided with quality education and employment opportunities, young people can drive industrial expansion, technological advancement and consumer market growth. However, population growth can just as easily become pernicious. When economic expansion fails to keep pace with demographic expansion, the consequences are severe. Unemployment rises, public services collapse under pressure, and poverty deepens. Rapid urbanization creates overcrowded cities, inadequate housing, strained transport systems and environmental degradation. In many developing states, the education and health sectors already operate under resource constraints. A rapidly expanding population stretches limited budgets thinner. Instead of investing in improving quality, governments struggle merely to maintain basic services. The result is a cycle of low human capital development and limited economic productivity. Moreover, high population growth often correlates with higher dependency ratios. A large proportion of children means greater expenditure on schooling, vaccination and nutrition, leaving fewer resources for economic investment. Without sufficient job creation, the much-anticipated demographic dividend may turn into a demographic liability. The global experience suggests that population growth is neither inherently beneficial nor inherently harmful. It is conditional. Nations that invest early in human capital, promote gender equality, expand access to family planning, and align education systems with labor market demands tend to harness demographic expansion effectively. Those that neglect these areas face mounting socio-economic stress. For Pakistan and similar economies, the path forward is clear but urgent. Population management policies must focus on awareness, healthcare access and women’s empowerment. Simultaneously, economic planning must prioritize job creation, industrial diversification and technological innovation. Population growth, then, is not destiny. It is a test of governance. In capable hands, it becomes a dividend; in negligent ones, a disaster. The choice rests not with the numbers, but with policy.