Pakistan’s runaway population growth is a recipe for disaster. As the country struggles to provide for its burgeoning citizenry, it has become the world’s fifth-most populous country. It’s current population surges past 245 million and is growing at an alarming rate. Pakistan is grappling with an overpopulation crisis that threatens to erode the quality of life for the people of the country. According to the 2023 population census, released on July 18, it is confirmed that the country is under the threat of crisis. In 2024, there is a 1.96% increase in population from 2023. A population growth rate of 2.55 percent, which if continued at the same rate will result in the doubling of the Pakistani population by 2050. A population growth rate of 2.55 percent indicates that the economy needs to grow at a similar percentage just to meet the needs of the current population of the country. The rapid population growth rate has brought into attention the huge challenge it poses to sound economic planning and a serious threat to the living standards of the people.
Moreover, there has also been massive rural to urban migration. Major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are undergoing unprecedented levels of population influx, leading to various accidents and a high mortality rate. Along with that, since 2017, the number of cities with populations of at least 500,000 has increased from 14 to 22, with chances of more increase in the future. The rapidly growing population is exerting tremendous pressure on the country’s resources and along with that, it poses a real-time threat to the economy.
Influx of population in cities has caused serious issues like shortage of houses, strain on urban infrastructure, access to health services, access to water and electricity, etc. The health care system is immensely affected by overpopulation. Maternal and child health services are particularly strained, leading to higher mortality rates and poorer health outcomes for women and children. Due to a shortage of services, the suffering for people has increased in the past few years.
The overpopulation is also contributing to deforestation as more land is cleared for farming and housing societies. Furthermore, rural regions are not far away from these pressures, as agricultural land is being overexploited to feed the growing population; this causes soil degradation and decreased crop yields; this also leads to lesser nutrients in crops that are not healthy for human consumption.
Another casualty caused by overpopulation is the oversaturation of the labor market, creating a significant burden. This results in high unemployment rates, particularly among young people. Low wages and poor working conditions due to the surplus of available labor is another factor contributed by overpopulation. The education system is struggling to keep up with the increasing number of children. Many lack adequate resources to get the required education.
The gender imbalance in turn also underscores how women’s contributions to the economy remain underutilized. The total number of males is 124.32 million compared to 117.15 million females. This disparity can play a pivotal role in adverse health outcomes for females, such as higher rates of malnutrition and maternal mortality. Moreover, all this together causes a threat to the lives of women living in the country.
While there are multiple life-threatening challenges for the people and the government of Pakistan, there is a severe need for planning and actions that should be initiated by the government and policymakers of the country.
It is clear that the initiation of a nationwide family planning and population control program on an emergency basis has become the immediate necessity of the hour. This requires swift expansion of reproductive health and family planning services to incentivize having smaller families; the incentives will attract the rural and uneducated population of the country. Another transition would be required from the change in societal attitudes that favor large family sizes. Not one step or action is adequate to control the enormous increase in population; a whole series of measures is needed to bring the crisis under control. This is not a one-day plan; rather, it requires proper planning of months and years of implementation.
The huge young population of Pakistan has the potential to provide a significant change through increased labor force by planning, participation, and productivity. The next responsibility is on the government to ensure sufficient investments in education, healthcare, and job creation for the unplanned population growth. The strategy by the government would be effective only if they are capable of resolving the problem of aligning the resource base with rapid increases in population. This misalignment, because of its nature, the population acts as a ticking bomb, which can explode any minute, could lead to severe social and economic consequences and extreme chaos in the country. Not just the policymakers; society must act more proficiently and also recognize the obstacles uncontrolled population growth poses to economic progress and should be more transparent, focused, and responsible in the use of resources.
While the challenges are enormous, a combined effort by the government, society, and the elites of society can pave the way for a sustainable future. Among all roles, people are the most significant, as they are the ones with the most suffering. The educated and literate population has a greater responsibility on their shoulders of making the society practical, sustainable, and livable. Not just actions; great change could be witnessed through words by creating awareness among people to create a healthy society for themselves.
The author, Fatima Ahmed, is a dedicated student of international relations. She has a keen interest in global politics and economic developments and a passion for understanding the complexities of international affairs. She had actively engaged in various research projects and academic initiatives.
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