Dear Qureshi Sahib,
Muslims of India missed a historic opportunity. With 25% of the population in 1941, they have gone up to 38% (in India/Pakistan and BD). They would be ruling the subcontinent now. They are 16% in India and will have to wait till 2175 to be the majority in India.
Did you know that Muslims were a minority in the Punjab and Bengal in 1881, but had become the majority by 1921.
Dr. S. Akhtar Ehtisham
(607) 776-3336
P.O. Box 469,
Bath NY 14810
USA
Blog syedehtisham.blogspot.com
All religions try to take over the establishment and if they fail, they collaborate with it, be it feudal or capitalist.
======================================================
Upright Opinion
January 5, 2012
Population Explosion Turning Pakistan
into a Slum
By Saeed Qureshi
Do Pakistan's
planners and economic managers ever realize that the fast growing population is
the biggest threat to the sustained development of that country? The pace of
development is out of sync with the unremitting growth of population that of
late has reached a staggering mark of 187 million.
The birth rate
outpaces the death rate with 31 births and 8 deaths per thousand. For every
thousand individuals Pakistan has to feed 23 more mouths every year. Food
already getting scarce, the utilities, housing, roads, jobs, health facilities,
water, power, educational institutions have to be proportionately created for the
burgeoning population.
The trend of
urbanization is taking its toll on the living conditions and environment in the
cities. The rural areas being grossly neglected for development of
infrastructure and provision of basic facilities, the rural dwellers migrate to
the towns and cities where they take up menial and small jobs for survival. The
earning members have to carry the burden of their family members some of whom
may also join in the odd jobs they seek to pool the cost of living. The statistics
tell us that 36 percent population lives in big cities while 50 per cent
population resides in towns with roughly 5000 thousands population or over.
The migrants create
shanty towns, or occupy inhabited or odd places to live with several members
huddled in a small room made from unbaked bricks or mud. The Pakistan's cities
suffer from inadequacy of utility and social services such as gas, water,
electricity, health, education and good public transportation system. The uninhibited
trend is to build houses anywhere without approval of the local government or municipalities.
One can witness the
ugly and haphazard growth of ramshackle shanty towns or even modesty good houses
coming up around the main cities such as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Karachi
presents the worst scenario as far grabbing of land and expansion of small
settlements and colonies around the cities are concerned. These makeshift
colonies are cordoning the cities with filth and dirt and sewerage flowing in
the unpaved lanes with swarming worms and flies.
In the absence of a
proper and pre-planned town planning,
the houses constructed haphazardly, do not have a wider access to move and thus
small, narrow lanes and uneven dirt paths are used as approach connections to
the houses. Now wherever one builds house of free will and without as we call zoning
rules, the access road and provision of electricity and running tap water and gas connections take years before these are piecemeal
provided.
It would be
interesting to note that in 1951 when both East and West Pakistan were
together, Pakistan's population was around 30 million which at present stands
at 180 million alone in West wing now Pakistan. While population has mushroomed
exponentially, the resources to cater for the needs of the growing population
have not been correspondingly created. Pakistan is replete with huge natural
resources one of which are huge coal deposits .But woefully these were not
utilized by mining and thus there is acute scarcity of fuel and gas and
electricity that could be produced by using coal.
The construction of
dams both for irrigation and power generations were always kept on back burners
for a variety of untenable reasons. The Kalabagh dam that should have been now functioning
for decades was left in lurch due to provincial bickering and thus no
government could pick up the courage to complete this very vital project.
We have mayhem
situation in Pakistan. There is an unremitting and unprecedented chaos all
over. The industrial sector is being shut down; the people are using firewood
to cook food and to warm their houses. We are moving back towards the primitive
ages. The agricultural crops are not enough to feed the people. The entire
system of governance and provision of essential utilities on sustained bases
has been in doldrums.
With the fast
growing population which is the easiest pastime for a jobless person, the country
has passed into the phase of horrendous backwardness. See our roads, our buses
and markets places full of encroachments with animals stalking the roads. Can
one believe this is a state that came into being only six decades ago and looks
like a medieval land?
The unchecked
growth of population is a sure recipe for unemployment, lawlessness, poverty,
breaking down of institutions, corruption, environmental degradation, poor
quality of life, the spread of diseases, and the loss of hope for a better
future among the public. When resources are scarce and demand gets higher and
higher by the day, the people would resort to crimes, stealing, and robbing,
killing and even prostitution.
The edicts of the
religious clergy that population control was a sin should be ignored as these
demagogues have no alternatives to give food to the entire population nor have
any plan to provide basic needs, utilities and services to the teeming
millions.
It is critically
important that emergent measures should be taken to cap the wild and
unrestrained proliferation of the population in Pakistan. Otherwise beside the
poverty graph going up, there can be riots all over country which are already
sporadically taking place in Pakistan.
It is up to the
authorities and the respective governments in Pakistan as to how they bridle
and control the population explosion for better life of the citizens. There are
many research documents and studies that are internationally available and also
in Pakistan which if implemented earnestly and with full force of law, the
population can be restrained.
Thus there will be less
new humans to be taken care in several ways from housing to medical care and
jobs and provision of basic needs both in terms of social services and public utilities.
That situation would take off an enormous load on the government exchequer as
well as lessen the burgeoning socio-economic problems. It is foregone that the
people with less socio-economic hazards and public service irritants can be more productive
than those reeling under abject and degrading living conditions.
Muslims of India missed a historic opportunity. With 25% of the population in 1941, they have gone up to 38% (in India/Pakistan and BD). They would be ruling the subcontinent now. They are 16% in India and will have to wait till 2175 to be the majority in India.
Did you know that Muslims were a minority in the Punjab and Bengal in 1881, but had become the majority by 1921.
Dr. S. Akhtar Ehtisham
(607) 776-3336
P.O. Box 469,
Bath NY 14810
USA
Blog syedehtisham.blogspot.com
All religions try to take over the establishment and if they fail, they collaborate with it, be it feudal or capitalist.
======================================================
Upright Opinion
January 5, 2012
Population Explosion Turning Pakistan
into a Slum
By Saeed Qureshi
Do Pakistan's
planners and economic managers ever realize that the fast growing population is
the biggest threat to the sustained development of that country? The pace of
development is out of sync with the unremitting growth of population that of
late has reached a staggering mark of 187 million.
The birth rate
outpaces the death rate with 31 births and 8 deaths per thousand. For every
thousand individuals Pakistan has to feed 23 more mouths every year. Food
already getting scarce, the utilities, housing, roads, jobs, health facilities,
water, power, educational institutions have to be proportionately created for the
burgeoning population.
The trend of
urbanization is taking its toll on the living conditions and environment in the
cities. The rural areas being grossly neglected for development of
infrastructure and provision of basic facilities, the rural dwellers migrate to
the towns and cities where they take up menial and small jobs for survival. The
earning members have to carry the burden of their family members some of whom
may also join in the odd jobs they seek to pool the cost of living. The statistics
tell us that 36 percent population lives in big cities while 50 per cent
population resides in towns with roughly 5000 thousands population or over.
The migrants create
shanty towns, or occupy inhabited or odd places to live with several members
huddled in a small room made from unbaked bricks or mud. The Pakistan's cities
suffer from inadequacy of utility and social services such as gas, water,
electricity, health, education and good public transportation system. The uninhibited
trend is to build houses anywhere without approval of the local government or municipalities.
One can witness the
ugly and haphazard growth of ramshackle shanty towns or even modesty good houses
coming up around the main cities such as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Karachi
presents the worst scenario as far grabbing of land and expansion of small
settlements and colonies around the cities are concerned. These makeshift
colonies are cordoning the cities with filth and dirt and sewerage flowing in
the unpaved lanes with swarming worms and flies.
In the absence of a
proper and pre-planned town planning,
the houses constructed haphazardly, do not have a wider access to move and thus
small, narrow lanes and uneven dirt paths are used as approach connections to
the houses. Now wherever one builds house of free will and without as we call zoning
rules, the access road and provision of electricity and running tap water and gas connections take years before these are piecemeal
provided.
It would be
interesting to note that in 1951 when both East and West Pakistan were
together, Pakistan's population was around 30 million which at present stands
at 180 million alone in West wing now Pakistan. While population has mushroomed
exponentially, the resources to cater for the needs of the growing population
have not been correspondingly created. Pakistan is replete with huge natural
resources one of which are huge coal deposits .But woefully these were not
utilized by mining and thus there is acute scarcity of fuel and gas and
electricity that could be produced by using coal.
The construction of
dams both for irrigation and power generations were always kept on back burners
for a variety of untenable reasons. The Kalabagh dam that should have been now functioning
for decades was left in lurch due to provincial bickering and thus no
government could pick up the courage to complete this very vital project.
We have mayhem
situation in Pakistan. There is an unremitting and unprecedented chaos all
over. The industrial sector is being shut down; the people are using firewood
to cook food and to warm their houses. We are moving back towards the primitive
ages. The agricultural crops are not enough to feed the people. The entire
system of governance and provision of essential utilities on sustained bases
has been in doldrums.
With the fast
growing population which is the easiest pastime for a jobless person, the country
has passed into the phase of horrendous backwardness. See our roads, our buses
and markets places full of encroachments with animals stalking the roads. Can
one believe this is a state that came into being only six decades ago and looks
like a medieval land?
The unchecked
growth of population is a sure recipe for unemployment, lawlessness, poverty,
breaking down of institutions, corruption, environmental degradation, poor
quality of life, the spread of diseases, and the loss of hope for a better
future among the public. When resources are scarce and demand gets higher and
higher by the day, the people would resort to crimes, stealing, and robbing,
killing and even prostitution.
The edicts of the
religious clergy that population control was a sin should be ignored as these
demagogues have no alternatives to give food to the entire population nor have
any plan to provide basic needs, utilities and services to the teeming
millions.
It is critically
important that emergent measures should be taken to cap the wild and
unrestrained proliferation of the population in Pakistan. Otherwise beside the
poverty graph going up, there can be riots all over country which are already
sporadically taking place in Pakistan.
It is up to the
authorities and the respective governments in Pakistan as to how they bridle
and control the population explosion for better life of the citizens. There are
many research documents and studies that are internationally available and also
in Pakistan which if implemented earnestly and with full force of law, the
population can be restrained.
Thus there will be less
new humans to be taken care in several ways from housing to medical care and
jobs and provision of basic needs both in terms of social services and public utilities.
That situation would take off an enormous load on the government exchequer as
well as lessen the burgeoning socio-economic problems. It is foregone that the
people with less socio-economic hazards and public service irritants can be more productive
than those reeling under abject and degrading living conditions.
__._,_.___
Editor,
Tariq Khattak, Islamabad, Pakistan.
GSM = 0300-9599007 and 0333-9599007
Email: Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com
Thanks for participating.
Kindly suggest improvements.
Please let us know:
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x==x==x==x==x==x
Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
Tariq Khattak, Islamabad, Pakistan.
GSM = 0300-9599007 and 0333-9599007
Email: Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com
Thanks for participating.
Kindly suggest improvements.
Please let us know:
I. If you want to receive individual emails
II. Receive one mail with all activity in it
III. Do not want to receive any mail at all
REQUESTS:
1) Please directly contact sender for personal/individual correspondence.
2) Try to discuss issues that will catch attention of many readers.
3) Please avoid sending messages in any language other than English
4) Avoid sending messages addressed to many recipients.
5) Do not send messages aimed at personal publicity.
6) Please do not send personal/other links unless necessary.
7) The Group is not obliged to publish printed news,
very short/long comments and objectionable material.
8) Every mail cannot be published; it will overload Mailboxes
of our valued members.
9) Try to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, Unsympathetic and/or Unpleasant.
x==x==x==x==x==x
Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
__,_._,___
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