Pakistan, Aug. 8 -- Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday termed Pakistan's annual population growth rate of 2.55 per cent, an alarming trend requiring immediate and coordinated policy action at the national level to address the issue.

The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister's Office to review the challenges posed by Pakistan's rising population and to deliberate on effective strategies to manage it, a Prime Minister's Office news release said.

"We need comprehensive planning to ensure our growing population, especially the youth, becomes a productive part of the economy," he stressed. "A large segment of our population comprises young people, who are the most valuable asset for our country." ...