The relative share of working age population has been increasing in from 1980s in India and

Bangladesh, from 2000 in Nepal and Pakistan. This trend will continue in all countries except Sri
Lanka till 2050.
South Asia needs to have policy and investment initiatives to reap the benefits of its ongoing
demographic transition and dividend. These policy initiatives should include, among other things, (i)
promoting political stability; (ii) improving the quality of education, making education curricula more
market-friendly and creating a pool of skilled labourers to meet market needs; (iii) seeking significant
investments to improve infrastructure; (iv) ensuring greater accessibility of credit and land to establish
manufacturing industries and factories to generate employment; (v) improving infrastructure,
particularly uninterrupted power supply and improving road and transport accessibility to the remotest
corner of the country; (vi) creating an environment for investment; (vii) attracting foreign direct
investment; and (viii) good governance. Sustained economic growth and development cannot be
achieved without good governance (Rafiqul Huda Chaudhury).