Reversing migration trends
Take any city in Pakistan for example: housing pressures are already tremendous, electricity and water problems are the order of the day, sanitation is stretched way beyond acceptable limits as are government education and medical facilities. This is evident from the rapidly expanding number of homeless persons, beggars and drug addicts struggling to survive as best they can. Naturally, crime rates are surging, too, and this is just the tip of the proverbial ice berg which, as usual, no one appears prepared to tackle in any seriously sustainable form.
Poverty, as has been proven, as the corrosive root of most societal and humanitarian ills and city poverty is far worse than rural poverty when living conditions are taken into account. Overcrowded city slums are rife with filth and vermin, lack regular potable water and sewage systems and access to schools tends to be limited. The rural area migrants move to the cities, leaving behind cleaner, healthier places to live, in pursuit of betterment. What’s more is that they have left places where water can be found and some form of education generally exists.
But who can blame them? These people are drawn to cities by dreams of wealth. However, once there, they are hit hard by reality and rarely have the courage to return to wherever it is they came from as this is tantamount to admitting defeat. They live in the city’s misery and continue to dream their dreams of a better tomorrow which, for the vast majority, will never arrive.
By any stretch of the imagination, it is virtually impossible to cater to the existing influx of rural to urban migrants unless migration is eased at the source through the provision of viable income-generating opportunities, along with improvements in all necessary services and associated infrastructural concerns. If rural dwellers, no matter which part of the country they reside in, are able to enjoy a reasonably acceptable standard of life right at home, they are less likely to pack their bags and set out in search of streets paved with gold.
The creation of rural employment opportunities is far from being an impossible task and, if done in accordance with environmental issues, is the sensible way to, at least, attempt to stem the flood of humanity before it hits cities, which are already struggling to cope.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.
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@Saqib: Thank you Sir. I lived in Bahwalpur in 1961-62 when my father was posted there. It was the best place then with an excellent library, schools, BV hospital, parks etc. I attended Abbasia High School and had the best education, I can think. It was the best town then. Looks like things have changed for the worst. I agree that Direct Foreign Investment may help but I am not how far this will go. Pakistan has too many problems. Second who is going to invest given the political turmoil in the country. By the way grass looks greener on the other side. India has made some improvements but the life of ordinary people is perhaps no different than poor Pakistanis.
@Max: I can understand your problem. I myself lived in Bahawalpur for 10 years. Situation is horrible. Actually at national level we need to upgrade big metropolitan cities first to attract Europeans and Americans investors. We shouldn't forget that Indian Cities are equipped with Metros and in Pakistan we don't have a decent transport system in our big cities. Other reason is to retain current investors in our country. Look what Indians did. They developed their Mumbai first and make it an investor's paradise now with that income they are developing rest of the India. Believe me if we invest some money in cities like Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi we can compete better. Though I'm not underestimating rural development. Basic facilities should be available everywhere like hospitals, roads, academic centers etc. Can you tell me any name of a city in China other than Chiangai and Beijing? You need to first develop few cities to provide world class facilities and then develop rest.
@Awans: My friend not every person has 10 crores. There are more than 60% in big cities who are hand to mouth and cannot even afford electricity bills and petrol in cars. From where they can invest such a huge amount in farming and dairy farms??
Lack of opportunities for better earning and very little potentials in the rural area for future as well as lack of good education facilities propels the rural folk to urban area. It is quite natural and applicable to all developing countries including China, India, south Korea or Pakistan though they knew the hardships waiting in cities. It is the potentialities of cities which attract mostly.
ET i think my last two lines were not necessary in the above comment since you removed the basic link which was an example for others in the above comment.
Typical urban bias at play. Look this way: I pay taxes while living in the rural area and who benefits more than I do. The only road to my small town (a stretch of twenty-five miles) takes more than an hour to get at the other end. The wear and tear of your auto aside. Lahore gets Rapid Transport System. My kids can attend a local school/college but if I have to send them to a good college in Lahore, think of the cost of college education on my meager income. These are just two examples add other sectors of human development and tell me who is standing tall. Oh by the way I pay way more taxes than any city-slicker. Yes! there is no direct tax on my agricultural income but how about indirect taxes which far exceed city boy/gal's income tax? To add insult to my injury, I and my children are called paindoo. Is there any such name for your talented city kids. Hope that makes you understand my stress.