Unit 12 # Population and Employment

1. a) i. Why do some people emigrate from Pakistan?

Ans: During the past few years, emigration has become common in Pakistan. Many
people migrate to other countries because:

a) there is unemployment or underemployment especially among educated and

ambitious young people, who want better reward for their services.

b) the developmental projects in the Middle East opened up job opportunities for the
skilled and unskilled labourers in the 80s and 90s.

c) the glamorous life-style of the advanced countries, especially of USA, has attracted
educated and talented young people,

d) corruption, delayed justice, favouritism and high crime rates in Pakistan have
created unrest among young people,

e) the recent policy of the Canadian government to attract more Asians as their
country is under the constant threat of depopulation.

f) there are uncertain political conditions due to growing terrorism and economic
crisis.

ii. Why do some people make seasonal migrations within Pakistan?

Ans: Seasonal migration is common within some areas of Pakistan. There are a number
of causes:

In mountainous regions especially, many areas in the extreme north are not accessible
due to landslides and heavy snowfall hampering transport links. This also leads to
seasonal migration to the warmer plains during winter.

In some areas of Pakistan such as in parts of Punjab and Sindh, seasonal and
unpredictable droughts occur that lead to severe water shortages. Due to extremely
low or no rainfall for a long period of time, subsistence and small-scale crop cultivation
may not be possible.
Due to lack of food and employment, many poor families migrate to urban areas to
support their families during these months.

In the past few years Pakistan has had moderate to severe floods from July to
September. Settlements have been destroyed; livestock and agricultural crops
damaged and people have been left homeless.

Some agro-based factories, such as sugar and be cotton processing mills, also hire
seasonal workers. Such workers may also migrate to other areas for employment once
their job is done.

b) Give four reasons for the low density of population in Balochistan.

Ans: There are following reasons for the low density of population in Balochistan.

• Total area of Balochistan is 347,190 km (134,051 square miles), which is

approximately 44% of the total land area of Pakistan. The population density
here is very low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water.

• The arid climate in Balochistan, combined with its mountainous terrain does not
support agriculture activities in Balochistan area.

• Balochistan is quite underdeveloped. This means that the migration of people is

towards Punjab, rather than Balochistan.

• Balochistan culture is primarily tribal, deeply patriarchal and conservative.

Baloch society is dominated by tribal chieftains called "Sardars", who are the
ruling elite of Balochistan and have been criticized for blocking the educational
development and empowerment of the Baloch people. Due to lack of facilities,
people migration to other provinces from Balochistan.

2. a) With reference to the unemployment situation in Pakistan, explain the causes

of rural and urban unemployment in Pakistan.
Ans: The Pakistani rate of unemployment increased by 6.5 percent, and we can say
that one out of every 10 persons in the country are experiencing unemployment. The
statistics from the urban areas for the unemployment rate were taken and it increased
by 2 percent to 10.1 percent and in rural areas it increased from 4.3 percent to 5
percent.
There are four major causes of unemployment in rural and urban unemployment in
Pakistan:

The use of advanced technology, mechanization of agriculture, low industrial growth

rate and reduction in foreign employment all comes under economic causes and need
great attention.

The social causes which include: high population rate, widespread illiteracy, lack of
technical education, nepotism and favouritism, re-employment, political instability,
rural-urban migration and Afghan refugees.

The financial causes which include: deficiency of capital and lack of credit facilities.

Our educational system is also responsible for increasing unemployment among the
educated youth. The attitude of our youth towards the choice of a career is unrealistic
and unproductive that has added to unemployment.

Unemployment rate in rural areas is higher than that in urban areas because there are
fewer opportunities of employment in rural areas.

b) With reference to literacy and training, suggest measures to solve the problems of
unemployment.
Ans: Comprehensive literacy and training programmes are extremely helpful in finding
the solution to unemployment.

• Increase in literacy ratio will reduce the pressure on land in rural areas and may help
people to choose other occupations especially the ones that require basic education.

• Literate and trained labour force can make economic activities more productive than
the illiterate and unskilled manpower.

• If the education system can fulfill the market demand for specialized labour, there
will be no gap between demand and supply of labour force.

• Trained and skilled manpower will have better

employment opportunities in the country and abroad. This can bring foreign exchange
to Pakistan in the form of remittances.
• A literate population is more concerned about the standard of living. It is more likely
to understand and appreciate the advantages of a small family. This will also increase
employment opportunities.

3. a) With the help of named examples, explain why density of population varies
considerably in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Ans: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the smallest province of Pakistan by land area and the
third-largest province by population after Punjab and Sindh.

The current province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a population of 35.5 million at the
time of the 2017 Census of Pakistan. Over 83% of the population lived in rural areas.

Due to such huge influx of migrant’s population, natural disaster like floods and
ongoing militancy in Fata and Malakand have forced the civilians’ population to move
towards the adjacent safe districts like Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannue Lakki
Marwat and D.I. Khan, such influx of migrants and internally displaced person have
generated many socio-economic problems for the cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

For example, the population of Peshawar reaches more than 2.5 million while
Peshawar was the most populated city of the province where around 1.6 million
internally displaced people of Fata were living in different areas of the city. Due to the
Urbanization many difficulties we were facing in health sector as air pollution, infant
mortality rate and Maternal Mortality rates were increasing day by day.

b) What are the 'push' factors that have led to large numbers of people leaving the
rural areas of Pakistan?
Ans: There are following 'push' factors that have led to large numbers of people
leaving the rural areas of Pakistan:

• Pressure on land, disguised unemployment, and division of land among sons.

• Overpopulation due to high birth rate. Poor quality of life.
• Limited food production on small-scale subsistence farms due to over-grazing or
misuse of the land, resulting in soil erosion or exhaustion. In many areas land
has become uncultivable due to waterlogging and salinity.
• Mechanization causes reduction in job availability.
• Natural disasters such as floods (areas around Indus and Jhelum),
thunderstorms (Potwar Plateau and Vale of Peshawar) destroy villages and
crops.
c) In 1995 male illiteracy was 50% and female illiteracy was 76%.

i. Why is illiteracy so high?

Ans: Most of the people (about 68%) live in rural areas of Pakistan and majority of
them are attached with different fields of agriculture. The most common cause of
illiteracy is our traditional culture based on pure agricultural, profession in which
education is not considered to be a foundation of life.

ii. Give two reasons why female illiteracy is higher than male illiteracy.
Ans: Female children are not considered as investment goods for their families. That’s
why most of the families don’t educated their female children. Furthermore, rude
custom of early age marriages also create illiteracy in female.

iii. State two ways in which the high illiteracy rate affects industrial growth.
Ans: As workplaces become more complex and technology-based, illiteracy creates a
gap between the workforce and the needs of businesses.

Illiteracy, which limits the pool of qualified workers from which businesses can
choose, is also connected to crime, health issues and high unemployment.

4. a) Study Figure 12-A, which shows types of employment in rural and urban areas.
Figure 12-A
i. In which area is the proportion of those employed in the primary sector highest?
Ans: Rural areas have highest proportion have highest proportion of people employed
in Primary sector.

ii. What is the main type of employment in the primary sector in rural areas?
Ans: Crop farming is the main type of employment in the primary sector in rural areas.

iii. Why is this type of employment probably underestimated?

Ans: Crop farming is the main type of employment in the primary sector in rural areas.
In rural areas it is mostly small-scale subsistence farming. A small farmer is poor,
illiterate, uses old methods of farming and obtains low yield of crops. On account of
his poverty, illiteracy and backwardness, this type of farming is underestimated.

b) Why is there unemployment and underemployment in rural and urban areas?

Ans: Unemployment and underemployment is common because the population of
Pakistan is increasing at a fast rate. Every year a large number of people are added to
the workforce of the country. In rural areas land is limited and cultivated area cannot
be increased. More people cannot be engaged in the agricultural sector.
Also, mechanization of agriculture is causing unemployment because with the use of
machinery, fewer people are needed to work on farms. In urban areas the industrial
and commercial development is slow. A large number of young men pass out of
schools, colleges and other institutions every year. All these young graduates cannot
find jobs readily. Rural to urban migration also causes unemployment in cities.

c) Why is the sector of tertiary employment likely to increase more in urban areas
than in rural areas?
Ans: Tertiary occupations include transport, trade and all kinds of services.
In rural areas there is not much room for development in these fields because poverty
prevails, people have low income and low purchasing power.
Villages are nearly self-sufficient in their needs. Therefore, there is not much room for
expansion of tertiary sector in rural areas. Urban areas are expanding faster in size and
population. In all fields of tertiary sector there are greater chances of employment. In
transport the number of buses, wagons, taxis and rickshaws is increasing. Wholesale
and retail trade of all kinds of goods is expanding. In services there are chances of
employment in banks, insurance companies, trading firms, education, health and city
government administration. Therefore, tertiary sector employment is likely to increase
more in urban areas than in rural areas.
5. a) Study Figure 12-B, which shows the increase in population in Karachi.

i. What was the population in 2010?

Ans: 13 million

ii. By how much is this expected to increase from 2010 to 2020?

Ans: 4 million

iii. What problems can be caused in an urban area by a high population density?
Ans: The high population density leads to a burden on the resources. Poor
houses, slum areas and katchi abadis develop. There is unemployment. Lack of
sanitation and hygienic water. Frustration develops leading to drug addiction,
increased crime rate, smuggling, theft & murder. There would be shortage of food
supply, hospitals, schools and entertainment areas. Due to load on electricity there
would be load shedding. People will be living in poor conditions. Air, water, land and
noise pollution will increase due to more traffic, sewage, house waste etc. Many
diseases can be observed.
b) Read the article below, published in 2009.

In 1996 the Orangi Welfare Project was established in a slum area of

Karachi. Government authorities and utility companies are working
together with local people to establish a model town or 'misali ilaqa'.
The work is shared between the authorities and the local people.
Residents will benefit from sanitary facilities, water systems, a power
supply and better roads.
Materials for building are supplied for housing, health centers and
schools, including a grammar school.
There is also a scheme to provide cheap loans for small businesses.

To what extent can self-help schemes, such as that in Orangi, succeed in improving
the living conditions in this and other slum areas?
Ans: The self-help schemes improved the conditions of the slum areas by
providing water for cleanliness, hygienic water for drinking. The sanitation facilities
reduce the diseases and death rate. It leads to lower Infant Mortality. The power is
supplied to use machines and electrical appliances. The roads provide an opportunity
for business, trade and transport. The schools, clinics, doctors help to develop
educational and medical facilities.

Cheap loans can be provided for small business. It provides jobs reducing the crime
rate. The living standard and income would be better. The failures are due to lack of
money & investment. There is lack of education and medical conditions, people look
for facilities. High cost is needed for a better infrastructure as roads, electricity,
communication, sanitation etc. Political instability leads to deterioration.

6. Evaluate the extent to which outmigration limits economic development in

Pakistan. Give reasons to support your judgment and refer to examples you have
studied. You should consider points of view in your answer.
Ans: Pakistan’s growing political tensions and the race for power have turned the
country into a political flashpoint and it does not address the problems of common
Pakistanis, who are continuously paying the price for the country’s political instability.
Pakistan’s brain drain situation has aggravated in 2022, as more than 765,000 people
left Pakistan for abroad in 2022, nearly triple the 225,000 departures in 2021.

According to the Bureau of Emigration, an overwhelming majority of the emigrants

went to the Middle Eastern countries, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). Among the European destinations, the preferred choice of the
Pakistanis appeared to be Romania.

Hundreds of thousands of young men, including highly educated people, who are
worried about inflation, unemployment and uncertain economic and political
situation, are going abroad every year in search of employment.

Unfortunately, Pakistan’s literacy rate is 60 %, about 30 million children are not going
to school. The potential highly educated people can contribute their role in the
development of Pakistan economy but as these people left Pakistan, it will limit
economic development and growth in Pakistan.