Sir: The unbridled population growth at international and national level has proved to be the cause of much needed concern for those countries, which in general lack will and in particular policy to check unbridled population growth as in Pakistan: a case in point.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has projected, population of the world, which at present is 7. 53 billion is to increase by slightly more than one billion over next 13 years, reaching 8.6 billion in 2030, to increase further to 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100, causing more mass-migration, diseases, turning megacities into crowded slums, violence, extremism, terrorism, adding stress on food, energy and water, which are already on the verge of decline.
Similarly, Pakistan is no exception, when it comes to unchecked population growth, reaching 207.8 million as per 2017 census, with 2.4 per cent growth rate and 3.8 fertility rates, more than any regional country as of India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. If Pakistan continues with current population rates, its population will reach 45 crore in the next 30 years.
In the annals of the history, Europe has witnessed the nightmare scenario of explosion of population growth, experiencing the worst humanitarian conditions but the firm belief and the wisdom of the European leadership set the continent on the path of peace and prosperity. At present, many European countries’ population is trimming down, whereas Africa has been declared by United Nation, the fastest growing continent in terms of the population.
Pakistan as a country has huge bulge of the young population, out of 207 million people, 132 million people are under 25-year age, making Pakistan, the fifth largest country in the world, in terms of young population. Whereas, it is misfortunate that 32 per cent young people in Pakistan are illiterate, making them including others unproductive force, who are more prone to violence and extremism with little to lose. Ultimately, experiencing despair, which is deep-seated.
Last month, on the direction of the Chief Justice Saqib symposium on alarming population growth was held in Capital, is the first right step for the foremost pertinent issue of population growth, where light was put on the issue from the top-notch scholars, including religious Ulema, Maulana Tariq Jameel, who reiterated on the importance of education and then planning while tackling the issue of the population growth.
If Iran and Bangladesh can check their population then why not Pakistan? Pakistan just need political will and clear policy that incorporates awareness campaign, family planning, use of contraceptives, legislation and more importantly Ulemas, who brush aside the negative perception about family planning from the masses, saving the country from time ticking bomb of the population growth, which can explode at any time.
AAMIR KHAN WAGAN
Larkana
Published in Daily Times, January 12th 2019.