Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Sunday underscored that the two critical long-term challenges facing Pakistan were population growth and climate change.&nbsp; The finance minister departed for the United States to participate in the World Bank Group&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings 2026, scheduled to be held in Washington, DC from April 13 to 18, 2026, where he is set to meet senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) leadership and discuss the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic outlook, reform progress, and future cooperation on his Washington trip.&nbsp; While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, the finance minister emphasized that sustained economic progress would not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, and highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation. According to a statement issued on the Ministry of Finance&rsquo;s X account, the finance minister acknowledged that further work was required in areas such as regulatory reform and ease of doing business, noting that these remain key priorities for improving the investment climate. The minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to structural reforms, including taxation, which has shown progress but remained below desired levels. He highlighted the ongoing transformation efforts within the Federal Board of Revenue, further emphasizing the need to move away from a model of perpetual subsidies for industry, advocating instead for competitiveness and export-led growth.&nbsp; The minister also highlighted the trade liberalization measures, including tariff rationalization, aimed at encouraging efficiency and integration into global markets. According to the finance minister, Pakistan&rsquo;s solar generation had reached approximately 8,000 megawatts. He underscored the government&rsquo;s ambition to significantly increase the share of renewables in the energy mix over the coming decade. The session was moderated by former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Reza Baqir, and included&nbsp;panelists such as Princeton University&#39;s Professor Atif Mian and Nobel Laureate and Massachusetts Institute of Technology&#39;s Professor Daron Acemoglu.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Climate & Environment

While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, finance minister emphasizes sustained economic progress will not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, while also highlighting Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation.

At Harvard, Pakistan's finance chief highlights population, climate as key future challenges

ISLAMABAD: Karachi, Pakistan&rsquo;s largest southern port city, is poised to rise sharply in global urban rankings as new United Nations projections show it becoming one of the world&rsquo;s biggest population centres by 2050.&nbsp;According to the UN&rsquo;s &ldquo;World Urbanisation Prospects 2025&rdquo; report, Karachi is expected to become the fifth-largest city on the planet within the next three decades, reflecting sustained population growth across South Asia.&nbsp;The report states that Karachi will overtake several major metropolitan regions, including Cairo, Tokyo, Guangzhou, Manila and Kolkata, by mid-century. It notes the rapid expansion of global megacities, saying the number of urban areas with more than 10 million residents has grown from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, and is forecast to reach 37 by 2050, &ldquo;more than half of them in Asia.&rdquo;&nbsp;Describing Karachi as &ldquo;a key example of the demographic transformation underway,&rdquo; the report highlights its already extreme density, estimating about 25,000 people per square kilometre.&nbsp;The UN projections also outline major shifts elsewhere, noting that Dhaka is expected to become the world&rsquo;s largest city by 2050, while Tokyo &ldquo;is projected to fall from third place in 2025 to seventh place by 2050&rdquo; as its population declines to around 31 million.&nbsp;The report traces long-term trends in global urbanisation, stating: &ldquo;In 1950, only 20 percent of the world&rsquo;s 2.5 billion residents lived in cities.&rdquo; By 2025, that figure rises to 45 percent, or 8.2 billion people. Between 2000 and 2025, the world&rsquo;s urban population expanded by 1.25 billion, with more than half of that growth occurring in India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States.&nbsp;Looking ahead, the UN projects that from 2025 to 2050, urban population growth will be concentrated primarily in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. These seven countries are expected to contribute more than 500 million new city residents, accounting for over half of the global increase of 986 million.&nbsp;The report adds that the global rural population is likely to peak in the 2040s before gradually declining, reflecting sustained migration toward cities. It also notes that more than 3,000 cities worldwide experienced population decline between 2015 and 2025, underscoring the uneven nature of the transition.&nbsp;Karachi&rsquo;s projected rise, the UN concludes, reflects &ldquo;long-term demographic trends&rdquo; that will shape economic planning, infrastructure investment and service delivery across South Asia in the decades ahead.

File Photo - Bahadurabad Area Karachi City (Wikimedia Commons)

Economy

Pakistan’s largest southern port city is projected to become the world’s fifth-largest city by 2050, reflecting rapid population growth and rising global urbanisation, according to a UN report.

Karachi to become global megacity powerhouse by 2050: UN

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Climate Change Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan has said Pakistan is facing a critical moment as climate vulnerability intensifies alongside rapid population growth, and urgent coordinated action is needed to secure the country&rsquo;s future.&nbsp; In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan stressed that population management and climate resilience must be addressed together, not as separate issues. She warned that Pakistan&rsquo;s population is expected to double by 2050, placing immense strain on natural resources, infrastructure, and sustainability.&nbsp; &ldquo;Religious leaders must play a role in awareness, and the government is actively promoting responsible population management,&rdquo; she said, adding that &ldquo;this is directly tied to our country&rsquo;s resilience and long-term stability.&rdquo; The minister of state said the private sector is ready to contribute to national climate efforts, but the right frameworks must be created.&nbsp; &ldquo;We need integrated policies where the private sector and international partners can meaningfully participate. Pakistan cannot manage this alone,&rdquo; she noted. Dr. Shezra Mansab also highlighted serious disparities in global climate finance access.&nbsp; Referring to the Loss and Damage Fund announced after the 2022 floods, she stated that despite commitments, no funds have yet been released to any affected country.&nbsp; &ldquo;We worked hard to establish that fund. Now, it must be operational. Countries like Pakistan, which have contributed the least to emissions, are suffering the most. This is a question of climate justice.&rdquo; Responding to claims of insufficient preparation at home, Dr. Shezra Mansab said Pakistan has a strong pipeline of climate adaptation and resilience projects ready to be funded. &ldquo;The delay lies with international bureaucratic processes, not with Pakistan&rsquo;s homework. Many Global South countries are facing the same challenges. We are raising our voice collectively.&rdquo; She added that while the Paris Agreement has increased awareness and progress, the global community must now shift from policy commitments to practical implementation. On provincial coordination, she acknowledged improvements but noted more work is needed, citing recent flood impacts in several regions.&nbsp; She praised Punjab&rsquo;s climate initiatives under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, saying that other provinces are beginning to adopt similar practices. &ldquo;Our geography is extremely diverse&mdash;from glaciers to deserts&mdash;so solutions must be tailored at the provincial level,&rdquo; she explained.&nbsp; &ldquo;The federal government will continue to provide policy direction, guidance, and support.&rdquo; Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan concluded that Pakistan&rsquo;s path forward must focus on responsible population planning, climate-smart development, stronger governance coordination, equitable access to global climate funds, and ensuring climate justice for vulnerable communities.

Minister of State for Climate Change Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan said Pakistan is facing a critical moment as climate vulnerability intensifies alongside rapid population growth, and urgent coordinated action is needed to secure the country’s future

Pakistan must tackle climate, population challenges together: Dr Shezra Mansab

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, said, while Pakistan must &ldquo;stay the course&rdquo; on structural reforms, urgent &ldquo;course correction&rdquo; is needed in two existential areas: population growth and climate change. Addressing &ldquo;The Future Summit&ndash;9th Edition&rdquo; in Karachi, he called for a national sense of urgency to tackle population growth, child stunting, and learning poverty, and to fully utilize the $2 billion climate-related financing available under the World Bank&rsquo;s Country Partnership Framework, said a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Finance on Wednesday. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1985956240984527013&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=61d154fee454dda7341ee4a3ef7ad9edb79436f9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Aurangzeb called for a fundamental shift from reactive policymaking to a forward-looking, reform-driven approach aimed at stabilizing Pakistan&rsquo;s economy, restoring investor confidence, and setting a sustainable course for growth. He outlined the government&rsquo;s commitment to structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and strategic partnerships to redefine the country&rsquo;s economic direction. In his remarks, the minister shared global and national perspectives drawn from his recent engagements in Washington and Riyadh, noting that the world economy has demonstrated greater resilience than anticipated, aided by structural reforms and enhanced private sector participation in many countries. &lsquo;Macroeconomic stability&rsquo;He underscored the growing global consensus on scaling back government roles and promoting productivity-led, private sector-driven growth, alongside opportunities in artificial intelligence and technology-led innovation. Turning to Pakistan, the finance minister reaffirmed that macroeconomic stability has been achieved and externally validated, with major rating agencies upgrading Pakistan&rsquo;s outlook, and the IMF&rsquo;s second review under the ongoing program concluded successfully. However, he emphasized that macro stability &ldquo;is not an end in itself but a means to an end,&rdquo; forming the foundation for sustained investment and long-term growth. &lsquo;Growing investor confidence&rsquo;&nbsp;Highlighting encouraging trends, he noted that corporate profitability in Pakistan has risen by 14% during the first nine months of 2025, and that 73% of CEOs in the latest OICCI (Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry) survey now consider Pakistan a viable investment destination, up from 61% earlier.&nbsp; These indicators, he said, reflect growing investor confidence and the country&rsquo;s improving direction. Senator Aurangzeb pointed to a &ldquo;confluence of favorable factors&rdquo;, including macro stability and geopolitical tailwinds, that now position Pakistan to convert bilateral support into trade and investment flows led by the private sector. He reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to providing an enabling ecosystem in priority sectors, including minerals and mining, IT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and the blue economy. Google&rsquo;s office in Pakistan&nbsp;Discussing technological advancement and the knowledge-based economy, the minister welcomed Google&rsquo;s decision to open an office in Pakistan and to make the country a regional technical and export hub. He emphasized the need to equip youth with digital and technical skills to help them capture higher-value opportunities in coding, blockchain, and AI-driven sectors. On structural reforms, Aurangzeb stressed that Pakistan is &ldquo;no longer in a design phase but in the implementation mode.&rdquo; 900,000 new tax filers&nbsp;He outlined progress in areas such as taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises, privatization, public finance management, rightsizing of government, pension reforms, and debt servicing. He highlighted the use of AI-led monitoring and invoicing systems to curb tax leakages, the addition of 900,000 new tax filers, and the World Bank&#39;s international recognition of Pakistan&rsquo;s reform efforts. He reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to privatization, noting the recent acquisition of a local bank by a major UAE conglomerate and ongoing work on transactions involving the PIA and power distribution companies. Defined-contribution pension schemeHe also shared updates on the right-sizing of federal ministries and departments, the closure of loss-making entities such as the Utility Stores Corporation and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation, and the transition to a defined-contribution pension scheme for new government entrants. He concluded by reaffirming the government&rsquo;s resolve to sustain economic reforms, strengthen resilience, and advance a reform agenda focused on long-term sustainability and human development.

Taxation

Business

Notes corporate profitability in Pakistan has risen by 14% during the first nine months of 2025; 73% of CEOs in the latest overseas investors survey consider Pakistan a viable investment destination.

Articles tagged with "Population growth"

At Harvard, Pakistan's finance chief highlights population, climate as key future challenges

Karachi to become global megacity powerhouse by 2050: UN

Pakistan must tackle climate, population challenges together: Dr Shezra Mansab

Pakistan’s finance minister urges ‘course correction’ on population, climate challenges

At Harvard, Pakistan's finance chief highlights population, climate as key future challenges