On February 15, 2026, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb delivered a stark warning at the Pakistan Economic Growth Conference in Lahore, stating that the country’s current population growth rate of 2.5% is unsustainable. Addressing business leaders at the FPCCI, he noted that if this trend continues, Pakistan’s population could swell to 400 million, making it nearly impossible to manage national resources or the economy. He urged the private sector to look toward the “Bangladesh model” for successful population control strategies to ensure long-term stability.
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Aurangzeb emphasized that the government cannot act as the sole employer for a nation of 250 million people. He called on the private sector to lead the drive for job creation while the government focuses on its role as a facilitator. To improve fiscal health, the minister highlighted a crackdown on tax evasion, revealing that an FIR was recently registered against a sitting senator. He also noted that the tobacco industry, plagued by smuggling and tax avoidance, is under intense scrutiny.
Insists govt can’t create jobs for millions of people. https://t.co/FoAF0giAC8
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) February 15, 2026
The minister shared optimistic news regarding the economy, stating that the IMF agreement has restored international confidence and inflation has hit record lows. He promised that relief for the construction and textile sectors is in the pipeline, with formal announcements expected within two weeks. Additionally, he identified IT exports as the nation’s future, with the potential to more than double in value if export proceeds are fully repatriated.
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