Population Problem of Pakistan

Submitted by:

Ali Afzal

Registration No.

04091713139

Submitted to:

Dr: Syed Hassan Raza Shah

Contents
Abstract:................................................................................................................................................3

Introduction:..........................................................................................................................................4

Statistical Evidence of Population Growth............................................................................................5

Causes of Overpopulation in Pakistan...................................................................................................6

Consequences of Overpopulation in Pakistan:.......................................................................................9

Possible Initiatives to Address the Population Problem of Pakistan....................................................11

Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................12

References...........................................................................................................................................13
Abstract:
Pakistan at its independence had a population of around 33 millions. But in 2021, it is 5th
most populous country in the world. The journey which country started around 74 years ago,
is full of many policies – and their failures – to control overpopulation. Besides government
failures to address the crisis, there are many contributing forces to overpopulation in
Pakistan. The higher rate of illiteracy, the prevalence of polygamous marriages in our society,
desire for male child, child marriages, and false religious interpretations associated with issue
have worsened the prospects of Pakistan. As a result, the country is faced with grim
consequences of the overpopulation. Overall decline in human development prospects, food
insecurity, housing issues, water scarcity, increasing homelessness and rise in urban crimes
are some of its severe results. Therefore, both the government and couples themselves need to
realize the severity of population threat. The government needs to equip hospitals with basic
required interceptive tools in basic health units, especially in rural areas. Likewise, education
and skill development for masses can transform the population burden into a useful force for
development of country. In a nutshell, the population is both a curse and a blessing: it all
depends upon the country’s ability to utilize the population resource to its optimal level.
Introduction:
Once Rumi was asked “what is poison?” Rumi beautifully answered, “anything which was
more than our necessity is poison” he added “it might be power, wealth, hunger, ego” and so
on. The same fits to population explosion. Population is a blessing and an asset for a country.
But the rapid and uncontrollable rise in the population makes it a burden. Considering this
issue, Alexandra Paul has rightly put it “The human overpopulation issue is the topic I see as
the most vital to solve if our children and grandchildren are to have a good quality of life.”
Thus, population explosion is one of the serious issues our globe is confronted with. The
global population has reached the threshold level of 7.8 billion. And Pakistan is no exception.
It ranks at the 5th in top overpopulated countries. The 2020 World Population Data Sheet —
released by the US Population Reference Bureau, Washington, the population is growing
rapidly at an annual fertility rate of 3.6 children per couple. Such massive growth is not only
linked with several socio-eco-political challenges but also acts as a fuel to the fire. Likewise,
there are several reasons for rapid population to be a serious issue for Pakistan. It is
responsible for several, and sometimes intertwined, social, economic and political problems.
The reason is when resources are meager, and the governments are unable to transform
people’s lives population seems as a problem.
Statistical Facts of Population Growth of Pakistan
 At the time of partition in 1947, the population of Pakistan was around 33 million.
 The 6th Population and Housing Census 2017 has reported Pakistan’s population to be
20,77,74,520.
 However, according to Wordometer the current population of Pakistan is around
224,864,293 as of Monday, June 7, 2021. These statistics are based on United Nations
data.
 Pakistan 2020 population is estimated at 220,892,340 people at midyear according to
UN data.
 Pakistan population is equivalent to 2.83% of the total world population.
 Pakistan ranks number 5 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
 The population density in Pakistan is 287 per Km2 (742 people per mi2).
 The total land area is 770,880 Km2 (297,638 sq. miles)
 35.1 % of the population is urban (77,437,729 people in 2020)
 The median age in Pakistan is 22.8 years.
 According to UNDP

“Currently, 64 percent of the nation is younger than 30 and 29 percent of

Pakistanis are between 15 and 29 (an age group which we define as the youth)”
Causes of Overpopulation in Pakistan
There are several causes of overpopulation. The most major and direct contributors to this
crisis are:

1. Illiteracy as a source of population growth

Education plays the most critical factor in development of a country. Pakistan’s literacy rate
is around 57%, according to Pakistan’s Economic Survey 2019-20. It allows a person to
understand, analyze, and make decisions which are not only beneficial for self, but also for
the society at a large. It is preparation for a bright future. It is a weapon that can be used to
change the world, as said by Nelson Mandela. Likewise, Malcolm X quoted “education is our
passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today”. In sum,
education enables an individual to work for a better life – a life when one can differentiate
between the right and wrong. It also implies to human capacity to understand the causes
consequences of its actions.

The opposite is the case for illiteracy. Around 53% of its population is illiterate. It implies
that most of them would have no any or very little knowledge of contraceptive measures, or
the consequences of overpopulation. Therefore, their inability to comprehend the
consequences of population bomb are severely limited. In such case, there are greater chances
for uneducated couples to be reluctant to the idea of controlling population. In sum, illiteracy
is a major contributing force to this challenge.

However, there are always exceptions. There are cases of highly educated and well-learned
masses in Pakistan who consider increase in population as a natural process. For them
population growth is not an issue. They consider this issue as a hoax. Likewise, there are
many illiterates and uneducated people who either in fear of poverty or aware of its
consequences, support the population control measures.

2. Polygamous marriages contribute to the crisis

Pakistani society is an Islamic society. Although a wide majority of population fails to follow
the wide range of teachings of Holy Quran and Sunnah, they do not miss any opportunity
such as that of the polygamy. It is legally permissible under the law of 1961. It allows men to
marry at least 4 wives. Islam allows polygamy – of course, there are certain conditions and
criteria to follow when committing polygamy which are flagrantly disregarded.

Considering this, in Holy Quran, Verse 4:3, Allah Pak states:

“If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of
your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly
(with them), then only one … that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing
injustice.”

But a large population does injustice not only to their wives, but to their children as well. In
most cases, the parents are unable to meet the needs of their children. As there are many
wives, it follows that there are chances that the number of children will be high as well.
Although the number of polygamous marriages is not exactly known in Pakistan, it is one of
major contributor to population crisis of Pakistan.

3. Child Marriages – a cruel reality of Pakistani Society

A report from DW reads:

“Citing data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017-
18, Qamar Naseem, a rights activist from the city of Peshawar, says 3.3% of
girls are married off under the age of 15 while 18.3% of girls married off are
under the age of 18.”

These numbers present a cruel side of Pakistani society. The forceful indulgence of children
in marriages is a crime as per many legislations passed from both the provincial and the
national assemblies. Still the child marriages have not come to the halt. There are many
instances of child marriages which are neither unreported. Thus, the probability from such
marriages to occur is higher than the reported numbers.

Other factors which contribute to such marriages are:

 Vani system
 Ignorance
 Tribal families
 Panchayat decisions
4. Desire for Male Child in our society
Historically, the girl child has been treated with extreme discrimination. Around 1300-
1400years ago, they had been buried alive. Our present is no different. They are burned,
killed, humiliated, and even sold today.

Thanks to Our Holy Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, who tried to address this attitude toward the
girl child.

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) said “Whoever had a daughter born to him, and he did not bury
her alive or humiliate her, and he did not prefer his son over her.”

5. Religious Interpretations strengthening population-oriented opinions:

A wide variety of Muslim scholars are seen preaching that Allah Pak is Ar-Razzaq (The Total
Provider) The Sustainer, The Provider. Ar-Razzaq the provider of sustenance for all His
creatures. He is The One who creates all means of nourishment and gives them their
livelihood. Therefore, they believe that without fearing any consequences, we humans – or
say Muslims specifically – should keep on growing.

Of course, Allah is Al-Razzaq. He is the Sole Sustainer of all that exists. But Allah in Holy
Quran also orders to obey those in authority. In Surah An-Nisa 4: Verse 59, Allah says:

“Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those from among you
who are invested with authority; and then if you were to dispute among
yourselves about anything refer it to Allah and the Messenger89 if you indeed
believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more commendable in the
end.”

The above verse is a clear display that, Pakistanis as citizens of this state must obey the
orders and laws of this state. This also applies to the regulations associated with population
growth. In sum, false interpretation of religious expositions should not be an excuse to flaunt
the laws of the state.

6. Poor contraceptive use

According to Dawn in 2019, there were:

 6000+ abortions per day

 40% unintended pregnancies
  30% post abortion complication rate - Every year in Pakistan 9,700 mothers
die according to UNICEF. “Based on global estimates, over 1,200 or 13pc are
estimated to be attributable to unsafe abortions,” said Dr Agha Xaher Gul,
heading the business strategy unit at Marie Stopes Society, fearing they may
be much higher.
 50 per 1000 abortions in 2014 – which was around 90% increase from 2002.

Dawn highlighted several causes of reluctant attitude towards contraceptive / family planning
modes:

 Women used pills

 They did not trust the family planning methods
 Many were ignorant of complications associated with it
 Family pressure to have more children
 Desire for male child

Many married women do not want a child – so they resort to abortion.

Consequences of Overpopulation in Pakistan:
The consequences of overpopulation are intertwined. Some of them are direct and others are
the byproduct of some of its consequences. Some major results of overpopulation in Pakistan
are as follows:

1. Economic Development will be Compromised

Michael Paul Todaro in his book “Economic Development” has opined that higher population
growth is one of the common characteristics of developing – or more specifically –
underdeveloped countries. It implies that larger the population, greater will be the drain on
resources. And in such a scenario, if workers are unskilled and untrained, the chances of
resources to waste increase.

Likewise, in an overpopulated country government needs to allocated funds for social

benefits, or social security programs which are done through a cut on the development
expenditures. In such a case, there will be less funds left for education, health, and promotion
of economy of country.

2. Poor Human Development Prospects

According to United Nations:

“Human development – or the human development approach - is about expanding the

richness of human life, rather than simply the richness of the economy in which
human beings live. It is an approach that is focused on people and their opportunities
and choices”

Every year, United Nations Development Programme presents an annual Human

Development Index which attempts to gauge the development level of around 189 countries.
In its latest report published in 2020, Pakistan ranks at 154th out of 189 countries. This shows
Pakistan’s poor development status.

3. Poverty will increase

Overpopulation and poverty go hand in hand. It is both a contributing agent and an outcome
of poverty. A greater number of population requires a wide variety of resources. So when
population increases there are little or no resources left for the other masses. In such scenario,
people have no other option but to live with all the hand-to-mouth resources that are left with.

As Donella Meadows says:

“Everywhere in the world, in every kind of culture, the poorest people have
the most children.”

4. Lower life expectancy:

The overpopulation is associated with the grim conditions of livelihood. People in an

overpopulated country are pushed to live life with minimum facilities that most of the time
their necessities such as food, shelter and clothing are not even met. The access to health
services, poor sanitation, and diseases wreak havoc on the poor and overpopulated country.

Same is the case with Pakistan. In Pakistan:

 Life expectancy at birth, both sexes is around 67.79 years

 Infant mortality rate hovers around 55 infant deaths per 1000 live births
 68.2 0er 1000 live births represent death underage of five
5. Water scarcity – a grave consequence

Overpopulation is responsible for greater demand of the country’s freshwater supplies.

However, since only around 1% of the world’s fresh water is accessible, it causes a great
difficulty.

Dawn, likewise, considers it as the “biggest problem” the country is faced with for following
reasons:

 The country faces acute water scarcity by 2025,

 And will be the most water-stressed country in South Asia within two decades.
 Almost 30 million Pakistanis have no access to clean water
 Poor public management of water
 Sugar is among the most water-intensive crops; the obsession with being a top-
five sugar producer is driving the water crisis
 Extensive water use in raw materials as well
6. Threat to food security
Wherever poverty and mean conditions of livelihood exist, the food insecurity is sure to
follow. Food insecurity in Pakistan is one of “an often-neglected issues”. The Covud-19
pandemic has further worsened the situation. Forty percent of Pakistani households are facing
moderate or severe food insecurity in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, as per a
survey conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

7. Environmental damage

The overpopulation is also associated with the environmental degradation. In following ways,
overpopulation harms environment:

i. Pollution in environment is one of the major consequences of overpopulation.

Environmental pollution in its all forms – water, land, and air – has great potential
to threat very existence of human beings. Thus, it is one of the grave potential
harms for Pakistan
ii. The deforestation caused to provide humans with furniture, papers, and other
material extracted from woods, is another serious threat to Pakistan. It leads to
ozone layer depletion, the global warming which ultimately leads to climate
change. With such changes in environment, food security is bound to compromise.
Moreover, skin diseases such as skin cancer are also results of environmental
degradation.
8. Rapid Urbanization accompanied by several problems

35.1 % of the population is urban (77,437,729 people in 2020). Following problems have
surfaced due to the rapid urbanization:

 Poor housing quality and inadequate access to housing facility: According to State
Bank of Pakistan there was a shortage of 4.4 million units of demand in 2015.
Moreover, it is estimated that five large cities of Pakistan would suffer a shortage of
around 78% if the current trend continue to prevail.
 Poor sanitation and water shortage: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
reported that 90 percent of water supply schemes are unsafe for drinking.

Likewise other issues related to urbanization due to overpopulation include:

 Increase in urban crime

 Land management issues arise
 Education facilities worsen
  Health services fall short
 Development prospects become bleaker

Possible Initiatives Problem of Pakistan to Address the Population

In order to address population problem of Pakistan following actions can be taken:

1. Redesigning family planning policies

The Third Five Year Plan (1965–1970) marks the beginning of country’s first Family
Planning Scheme. The family planning policies should

 Incorporate the easy access to the contraceptive kits

 Focus on spreading awareness about the contraceptive procedures and all the
issues related to it through different modes of mass media
 Furthermore, appointment of lady doctors should be made mandatory in all health
units dealing with contraception and other related issues
2. Investment in Human Capital

Humans are most important asset of a country. They are drivers of development of a country.
The more they are skilled, the greater will be their contribution to the nation. And opposite
will be the case when the investment in human capital is low.

Human capital refers to the economic value of labor force. The skills and capabilities of a
worker, its education and the experience come under the domain of human capital.
Investment in human capital means investing in the skill-development and training of the
labor force. It is one of the most efficient way to develop with a large chunk of population.

3. Government Should Announce Incentives for Controlling Population

Human behavior is rational. Every action they take, they calculate all the risks and
opportunities involved in it. If government incentivizes the population control, the chances
that people would respond positively will increase. At the simplest level, the government
announce free education for children with no siblings or say free healthcare facilities for few
years for a child having one or two siblings. The incentives certainly differ, and so does the
threshold level of children depend upon the government policy.
 4. Educating Women

The major resistance to women to opt contraceptive methods or produce less children is
directly linked with their education level. When the women are educated, they most likely do
a job. When they do a job, the chances for them to bear so many children also reduce.

Likewise, educated women are also financially independent. Therefore, the decision to
whether to give birth to a child is also given higher priority as compared to the uneducated
women in a traditional societal model.

5. Dire Need to Engage Youth

Around 64% of Pakistan’s population is under age of 30 years. Certain initiatives are required
to engage youth for progress of country:

i. Investing in skill building of youth can be a major initiative

ii. Uneducated young people should be trained accordingly can transform them into
useful labor force for country’s economy
iii. Education of youth should never be compromised at any cost
iv. Career counseling of youth should also be given attention
v. More attention should be paid to save youth from drug abuse and involving in crime
vi. Easy credit availability should be ensured for young entrepreneurs
Conclusion

Excess of everything is poison. So is the case with population – when it increases beyond the
capacity of country to efficiently manage it. Overpopulation is related to the several social,
economic, and political problems. They include poverty, mean conditions of living, poor
health facilities, low level of infrastructure, unemployment issues, increase in crime and
many unintended consequences. Therefore, in such a scenario government involvement is
mandatory. Without government led initiatives, addressing overpopulation would be a hard
nut to crack. In addition to government led population control policies, much more needs to
be done. Firstly, the population control scheme should be comprehensive. It must be
formulated keeping in mind the grim ground realities of Pakistani society. Secondly, women
should be educated. The education is a multidimensional weapon. On one hand, it enables an
individual to be a useful member of society, and on the other hand, it is a useful tool to
control overpopulation. Thirdly, the government should incentivize population control. It can
be done through provision of different public facilities or so. Fourthly, religious dogmas and
false interpretations should be cleared about overpopulation. The scholars of the time should
speak up for the population control keeping in mind the current scenario of our society.
Fifthly, and most importantly, the funds for investment in human capital should be increased.
The best strategy to control the consequences of overpopulation is to use this population for
support, promotion, progress and the development of Pakistan
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