‘Crime rate hike directly proportional to population increase’

Karachi
Law and order situation in third world countries, like Pakistan, can only improve if the massive annual increase in population was brought under control. The increase directly affects the socio-economic condition of a country.
This was stated by University of Karachi Department of Criminology’s Chairperson Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat in a seminar, Population and Crime, organised by the Sindh Population Welfare Department and Pakistan Research and Development, on Thursday. The widening gap between the rich and the poor consequently increases the level of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, he stated.
“An increase in population generates a scarcity of resources which in turn gives rise to unequal distribution of the resources which engenders intolerance among the deprived classes, finally culminating in a surge in crimes.”
Focusing on Karachi, Dr Burfat stated that limited resources available with a city whose population had exceeded 20 million gradually created unlimited problems.
Lauding the performance of law enforcement agencies, he claimed that despite their uncompromising efforts we could witness a reported increase in crime since even the law enforcement institutions were facing a shortage of resources.
“The LEAs including the police and Rangers should be provided with adequate resources in comparison with the increasing population of the metropolitan,” he suggested.
Dr Burfat while speaking of a lack of proper facilities provided to women and children stated that conditions of Pakistani women needed to be improved whereas children should be provided with educational, recreational and basic health facilities.
Another speaker, Yaseen Wagan, also endorsed Dr Burfat’s view stating that over population causes an increase in the crime rate and also contributes to the scarcity of resources in all the vital sectors including of health, education and employment.
She stressed on effective family planning and apprised the audience of family planning centres set up by the provincial welfare department in the entire province.