PAKISTAN is expected to see a 56 per cent increase in population to 366 million individuals by the year 2050.
It was revealed in the recently released UN report: ‘World Population Prospects 2022’. The report also attributes Pakistan as one of the leading contributors to population growth.
Such soaring population growth, coupled with a dismal education system, high unemployment and a troubled economy pose great risks for us.
This is the reason many observers predict the country’s population situation as a ticking time bomb.
Rightful interventions need to be made not only to bring down the population growth rate but also to provide better health and education facilities to the people which will also contribute significantly to defuse the situation.
Back in 1990, the country with 114 million people, stood at the eighth position in the list of the world’s most populous countries and now it has climbed up three spots to reach the fifth.
Had any serious consideration given to this issue, we have not reached this stage.Our social sector is already overcrowded and not sufficient to cater to the current population.
A fifty six percent increase in the country’s population means that it will need to generate more revenue for its healthcare and education budget and other public services. Then, ours is also one of the ten destination countries for refugees and asylum seekers.
The country reported a net outflow of 16.5 million migrant labour between 2010 and 2021. Hence, we have to do future planning keeping in view all these aspects.
Population should be taken up as a national issue and dealt through a unified approach by all stakeholders.
Firstly, our youths will only be able to make well-informed decisions if they are provided with education and that too in diverse fields.
Hence, education should be at the heart of any population-related policy. Moreover, efforts should be accelerated to address myths and misperceptions which hinder the uptake of family health services through responsible mass media and effectively engaging religious scholars for promoting responsible parenthood in their sermons.
Relevant provincial departments must be awakened from deep slumber which must ensure that reproductive health and family planning services are available at the tehsil level.
Focus must also be laid on reducing infant, child and maternal mortality rates.
