KARACHI:
Pakistan’s population is expected to grow by 50.8% from 258.6 million in 2023 to 390 million in 2050. Governmental and non-governmental organisations take initiatives to spread awareness about the growing population, its rising severity, social and economic impacts and importance of smaller families. But the fundamental mistake we make while discussing the issue of a rising population is considering it as an isolated issue rather than as an outcome of deeper structural flaws that prevail in our society.
Pakistan’s under 5 mortality rate is 56 per 1000 live births. High child mortality creates uncertainty about the survival of children which motivates parents to have more. Secondly, poor families generally have more children because they are considered as contributors to household income. Gender inequality is extremely high, and when women do not have a source of income due to unequal opportunities, they lack decision-making power which contributes to rising fertility rates. Lastly, parents also prefer to have more children as they consider them as financial security in old age.
So, population is not an isolated problem rather it is an outcome of deeper societal issues. Our focus should not be on reducing population growth on its own but to address the root causes including lack of basic health care facilities, extreme poverty and inequality, gender inequality and lack of social security for senior citizens. Once these and other such root causes are addressed, population growth will decline as a gradual outcome.
Abdul Mouiz
Sukkur
