By S.M. Inam
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan faces a mounting employment crisis, with the World Bank warning that the country must generate 30 million new jobs over the next decade to keep pace with its rapidly growing population.
World Bank president Ajay Banga spoke to an international news agency, highlighting the urgency of the challenge and the potential social consequences of inaction. Banga said Pakistan would need to create between 2.5 and 3 million new jobs annually to absorb its expanding workforce.
“Failure to provide sufficient employment opportunities for the youth could fuel rising unemployment, social unrest, and migration pressures,” he cautioned, underlining the human dimension of economic policy and demographic trends.
The World Bank, he noted, would continue its partnership with Pakistan, providing around $4 billion annually to support development initiatives. He stressed that the private sector typically generates 90 per cent of new jobs, while agriculture alone could account for roughly one-third of potential employment, offering significant opportunities for rural communities.
Highlighting structural challenges, Banga identified Pakistan’s electricity sector as a major bottleneck affecting both investment and economic growth, calling for urgent reforms to stabilize supply and reduce costs. He also suggested that improved solar energy systems could play a critical role in addressing energy shortages.
Other sectors with strong job creation potential included health, infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture. Banga concluded by emphasizing that sustainable development must integrate environmental protection, warning that economic growth divorced from ecological considerations would undermine long-term stability.
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