Wajeeha Ashfaq
Despite being among the poorest countries of the world and stuck in the worst economic turmoil, Pakistan has been declared as the 5th largest country in the world in terms of population by United Nations Report of 2022. The census of 2021 revealed the population bloom to hit 231.4 million which is an alarming situation for a country which is already drowned in a number of serious issues, political and economic instability being the major causes leading to other grave issues as well. The issue doesn’t end here as with the fertility rate of more than 3, Pakistan’s population is expected to increase by 56% in 2050 as per UN report. What’s wrong with overpopulation? For a country like Pakistan where resources are scarce, the growing population serves as a poison for depleting assets. These disturbing statistics need immediate attention and solution before there effects start haunting the state at a greater level.
Among various other reasons for such explosion, religious and cultural issues top the list. The orthodox clerics provide religious grounds for producing more than average children and the concept is deeply rooted among the population which considers it as some sort of religious compulsion to produce children. Moreover, our cultural restraints consider open sexual teachings as a taboo. Majority of the population have zero knowledge of family planning and isn’t even considered necessary. Researches show that only 34% population of the country use contraceptives while 17% showed their willingness to use but do not have accessibility to it Moreover, sons are considered as a symbol of pride in our rotten social setting so parents usually do not stop producing kids until they have a son.
Another factor that contributes to overpopulation in Pakistan is child labor. Due to rising inflation, one person’s earning cannot be relied on which results in child labor. Producing more children for the sake of earning has become a trend in Pakistan. In addition, repeated migrations from Afghanistan since 1979 have also contributed to the population boom in Pakistan, exerting pressure over already-depleting resources of the country. Food insecurity and water insecurity are among the most dangerous causes of over population. Although, Pakistan is an agricultural country but even this cannot serve as a savior in such a case. Moreover, it becomes difficult for state to provide housing, medical, education, health and housing facilities as population increases more and more. Furthermore, more population results in degradation of environment contributing to pollution and ultimately, all these factors combined compromise the overall quality of life.
It’s about time this danger must be encountered with a serious approach by the state. Awareness regarding family planning must be promoted through different platforms such as maternity centers in hospitals may prove to be the best choice for this. In addition, age appropriate knowledge regarding sexual teachings must be provided in schools, colleges and universities rather than treating it as a sort of prohibition. Access to contraceptives must be made easy through reduction in prices and encouraging population for its usage in order to control population. Child labor must be banned completely so that producing children does not equalize having assets for earning more money as the greater number of kids are more linked to greater ratio of poverty as compared to higher class. Moreover, humans must be treated as resources and efforts should be made to develop them and provide them with better facilities. The strain on resources may be reduced if we think towards using renewable sources for energy including wind and sunlight. These factors can be worked upon if our state leadership focuses more on issues at the grass root level rather than boasting a 4 million Rupees flag on independence day which clearly reveals where our leadership stands in terms of priorities.
To recapitulate, the problem of overpopulation is complex and urgent, and it demands our attention and action. Population growth is at an all-time high, putting huge demand on our planet’s resources, ecosystems, and social institutions.To properly address this issue, we must take a multidimensional approach and must foster a mindset that values responsible consumption and equitable resource distribution. Issues at the minute level must be addressed in order to avoid greater loss in near future for which serious concerns and efforts from the leadership as well as changed mindsets of the general population are required. This can be achieved through mutual efforts of educated people as well as officials who can join hands to educate and spread awareness among masses. We can work together to create a future in which population growth is balanced with our capacity, ensuring a sustainable and thriving environment for future generations.
Writer is student of Quaid e Azam University, Islamabad in 5th Semester of BS Political Science.