Pakistan, July 11 -- Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has urged all stakeholders including the federal and provincial governments, members of parliament, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector, religious scholars, the media, and local communities, to recognize the urgency of the population rise as a national issue and fulfill their shared responsibility by promoting informed decision-making, responsible parenthood, gender equality, and sustainable development.

The prime minister, in his message on the World Population Day, said that the day provides an important opportunity to highlight the significance of population issues at the global level.

He added that this year's theme, "Realizing the Hopes and As...