The UN’s population division foresees a global population of 9.3 billion people in 2050, and more than 10 billion by the end of this century. Much of this increase is expected to come from high fertility countries, of which nine are in Asia. Today, 60 per cent of the world’s population lives in Asia. Currently 4.2 billion, it is expected to peak around the middle of the century to 5.2 billion in 2052, before it begins to slowly decline.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, UNFPA Country Director Royan said, “Looking at the broader comprehensive challenges countries and regions are facing, the report will help governments plan their own policies.” He said Pakistan has one of the fastest growing populations with a growth rate of 2%. “There are 180 million people and the population is likely to increase to 350 million by 2050. “With the doubling of population there would be a doubling of poverty.” Pakistan has a very active and increasing young population, he said. “Pakistan being vulnerable to natural and manmade disasters has to suffer more as most of the national resources have to be diverted towards humanitarian assistance.”
Globally, people are younger and older than ever before. In some of the poorest countries, high fertility rates hamper development and perpetuate poverty, while in some of the richest countries, low fertility rates and too few people entering the job market are raising concerns about prospects for sustained economic growth and the viability of social security systems. While labour shortages threaten to stymie the economies of some industrialised countries, unemployed would-be migrants in developing countries are finding more and more national borders closed to them and the expertise they may have to offer. However, there is much to celebrate in world population trends over the last 60 years, especially, average life expectancy and the fact that infant deaths plunged in the past five years. Immunisation campaigns have reduced the prevalence of childhood diseases worldwide and fertility has declined by more than half, from about 6.0 to 2.5.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2011.
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Human versus Rats population explosion:
In Pakistan, rats consume several million tons of stored wheat grain annually; in Bangladesh losses of grain stored inside houses are estimated at US$620 million a year, in houses only. In India, rats outnumber humans tenfold......and consume almost 50% of the stored grains!!!
There is a Hitchcock psycho-thriller, "The Birds", in which the humans are attacked from birds. Just imagine that these billions and billions of rats once declare a crusade against the humans!
There are 180 million people and the population is likely to increase to 350 million by 2050. “With the doubling of population there would be a doubling of poverty.”
This is a gross understatement. Poverty will double only if it catches up to the growth levels of India and China. In fact poverty will decrease. If Pakistan continues to have an average growth of 4% or less poverty will increase exponentially.
Policies like the one-child norm cannot be imposed in Pakistan, as the Mullahs will go crazy.
More than Terrorism, this is the biggest challenge Pakistan has to and will probably face in the next 20 years.
Atleast there is some fields in which Pakistan has high growth rates. :)