Islamabad, July 11 (IANS) The government's efforts to check population growth need to be supplemented by the civil society, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
In a message on World Population Day being observed Monday, Gilani said: "The day, under the auspices of the United Nations, draws our attention to the challenges of escalating population and its impact on socio-economic structures."
Pakistan has a population of over 170 million.
Gilani said the day highlights the need for concerted global effort to stem increasing population through greater political commitment, policy reform, injection of more resources and creation of awareness among people, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.
According to the UN, three billion people out of total world population are below 25 years of age. This can be a bane as well as a boon depending upon how the world responds to this challenge, the prime minister added.