Pakistan, Aug. 7 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for an urgent and unified national policy to manage Pakistan's rapidly increasing population, warning that the issue is directly linked to the country's economic and social stability.

Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the premier ordered the formation of a special committee to draft a comprehensive and actionable population strategy, emphasizing that collaboration with all provincial governments is essential. He stressed that merely talking about the issue is no longer enough - concrete measures must now follow.

Pakistan's population growth rate stands at 2.55%, among the highest in the region. Officials at the meeting projected that the population could exce...