Population control a way to prosperity

One has to travel at least twice by train and ‘flying coach’ from Rawalpindi-Islamabad to any other city in order to ascertain how people think about future of their homeland and how they react to any administration’s social and economic programmes?

Commuters, mostly middle and lower-class consumers, can’t remain tight-lipped for more than 20 to 25 minutes. They begin asking about each other’s welfare and conclude their gossip on a harmonious note: “We should unite as one nation, plan our policies in light of the Quran to meet challenges confronting us, and prefer national interest to selfish motive.”

During intercourse abruptly there are voices: “What about the spurt in food prices and energy tariff, and unchecked rising population? Why wisdom doesn’t prevail upon the policy makers?”

The point is that human civilisation is facing an all-pervading ideological crisis. Some are proclaiming the end of history in the triumph of Western liberal democracy over other ideologies. But such a claim loses all credence since millions are suffering from poverty, ignorance, oppression and disease.

Many say the world is in the grip of philosophical, political and economic anarchy. In the face of such a state of ideological confusion and chaos, only a socio-political and economic system of divine origin can redeem us.

Such a code of life is the one that emanated from the Quran and life of the holy prophet (peace be upon him), and that’s the basis of a state like our homeland. By the way, the same idea was conceived by the architect of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Leaders don’t take any notice of population explosion.

As a matter of fact, unbridled population growth is choking our development effort, affecting individual quality of life and eventually keeping us away from macro-economic goals. Only city elders and the educated youths, conscious of socio-economic problems, realise that yearly increase in population is alarming. Surprisingly, no power-hungry leader has expressed concern about the population explosion and its consequences.

There’s no denying the fact that a three per cent annual increase in population has an adverse impact on the national resources. How many of the 180 million are living below the poverty line in the country?

Independent estimates suggest that poverty may have taken in its fold up to 14 million between 2005 and 2010. That means an increase in poverty from 22.3 per cent of the population to 60-65 per cent in 2013-14.

According to a report, around 62 million people live under poverty line, 45 million face severe food security and 30% can’t afford health-care.

In any way, population control is a short way to prosperity.

zasarwar@hotmail.com