Daily Times

After a long gap of nineteen years, Pakistan’s sixth census was carried out last year. The country’s population is now almost 208 million, which is a 57 percent increase from the census carried out in 1998.

With around 2.4 per cent growth rate per annum it is unclear how this massive increase in population can be contained. After terrorism, perhaps the explosive growth in population is the biggest challenge in our country. Increasing crowdedness in public spaces like schools, hospitals, bazaars, and public transport etc. should be of much concern.

We have twenty-two births per 1,000 people. Sixty per cent of our population belongs to the young age-group of 30-year olds mostly. With 58 per cent literacy rate, the country still has to cope-up with 24 million children who are out of school and an alarming drop-out ratio.

The slow pace of the national economy is not ready to absorb this huge population bulge. Pakistan was 14th in the world with a population of 33 million in 1950. We are now the fifth populous country after United States, China, Indonesia, and India.

The reasons of unchecked massive increase in population are mainly religious taboos, political apathy, and lack of public awareness due to low literacy rate. One estimate suggests that probably only one-fourth of married couples use birth control and family planning methods.

With the current birth rate, the country could outpace Indonesia causing more pressure on the already feeble infrastructure of schools, health centres, water and sanitation etc. Besides, the joblessness would further push the whopping population of the youngsters to stand vulnerable to extremist outfits’ recruitment ventures.

Our politicians are seen unnecessarily squabbling, focusing on an increase and decrease of population in rural and urban pockets to get a maximum number of seats in legislative houses and thereby financial allocations. Rather, the concern should have been shown how to control the rising graph of the population but that is unfortunately, not a priority here.

A couple of days back, the top court of the country was in session with hearing of a Suo motu notice over ballooning population. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar commented: “What has the nation gotten itself into? Is the country capable of supporting seven children per family?”

The slow growth of the national economy is not ready to absorb this huge surge in population. Pakistan ranked 14th in the world with a population of 33 million in 1950. We are now the fifth most populous country after United States, China, Indonesia, and India

The statement of the representatives of relevant departments on the occasion is painting a poor picture of the family planning efforts currently in place. A top judge ordered Director General Civil Services Academy Fawad Hasan Fawad to undertake a study to research how other countries checked and contained their increasing population and submit the findings of that study in two weeks’ time.

Besides, the apex court also ordered setting up a task force to be headed by Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan comprising the federal secretary of population planning and officials of welfare departments of the provinces to take up the issue separately and submit recommendations within three weeks. Whether there will be some pragmatic approach towards the issue or these hearings will also insubstantially end at the bureaucratic red-tapism is yet to be seen.

A lack of woman empowerment, male child preference, religious constraints, beliefs, customs, polygamy, and lack of recreational facilities are the major reasons of population increase. But the most outstanding problem is the non-implementation of family planning policies on part of the government. Current family growth rate stands somewhat more than 3.5 children per family average.

An oversized population generates pressure on existing resources. The resources constraint subsequently results in the joblessness of the youth. From unemployment emanates despondency and unrest leading to social problems including family distress. Stressful life more often than not renders one criminally deviant. This is how a multidirectional degeneration takes place in society.

We should achieve ‘zero population growth’ or reduce it to one child per couple. Early marriages must be discouraged. Population welfare departments should organise awareness campaigns while being in league with medical practitioners and family health experts. Media must carry forward the message promoting family planning.

The issue needs concerted efforts by population welfare departments, village heads, school teachers, health experts, family supervisors, and the media. Muslim clerics can also to be taken into confidence — this is perhaps more challenging but it should be made possible. Otherwise, there is little chance of success in controlling the population

A massive increase in population is a ticking bomb. Besides, Pakistan has been lenient over the protracted stay of Afghan refugees and other both legal and illegal immigrants. Their number could be in few millions. There should be some programme discouraging immigrants and refugees’ protracted stay in the country and denying them citizenship.

The latest census reveals that the rural areas have a larger population as compared to the urban areas. However, the recorded data shows 2.23 per cent growth in rural areas and 2.7 per cent in urban areas. There is marked increase in the population shift from rural to urban obviously to seek better living conditions and opportunities. Hamlets noticed a few years back in rural areas are now seen close to turning into township size due to population increase.

People have logically held religious belief that destiny is pre-ordained by the Almighty. While that may be true, human understanding demands that there should be expansion of services delivery infrastructure to absorb the whopping population — if not possible then tendency to produce more children may be discouraged so that quality of life is enhanced.

The seventh census is scheduled to be held in 2027. If the current growth rate is allowed to go unchecked, Pakistan will perhaps become the third populous country after India and China. Indonesia, a populous Muslim country made successful inroads in containing the soaring graph of the population. Then why cannot Pakistan?

Every couple; literate or illiterate requires being motivated. This needs concerted efforts by population welfare departments, village heads, school teachers, health experts, family supervisors, and media with an organised advertising campaign. Muslim clerics can also to be taken into confidence — this is perhaps more challenging but it should be made possible. Otherwise, there is little chance of success in controlling the unchecked soaring graph of the population and its concomitant ills.

The writer is a freelance contributor and tweets @M_Abaloch

Published in Daily Times, July 12^th 2018.