Urbanization and Population

As per the data mentioned by Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan has the fifth largest population in the world, approximately 221 million people in the country, fourth largest in Asia and Second largest in the Muslim countries. This is really alarming for a developing country like Pakistan which lacks resources, strategic planning and a broad vision. Exponentially , our population is multiplying every year. Despite with meager resources ; it looks that we are heading towards more dependency on other nations, their financial institutions for more debts, interests and so on. Our agriculture sector is not equipped with to meet up with the nation's needs. Our farmers are less aware of the modern techniques of farming. They are not familiarized with the use of modern technologies. Thats why, we still import wheat, refined petroleum, Petroleum gas, Palm Oil, Raw Cotton, Oil seeds, fruits etc. In fact, our soil is rich in natural resources like, gas, petrol, coal, oil, gold and other minerals. How to dig out and utilize these resources, certainly, is an open ended question for the concerned quarters.

Some thousands years ago, in the age of agriculture, humans had changed the land, came out of caves, learned the skills of harvesting; rushed to the green lands and started a new life. After the advent of industrial revolution in 18th century, paradigm shifted to a new reality in shape of urbanization. Here in this era, humans have severely harmed atmosphere. The invention of producing stem power and mass manufacturing helped in attracting the masses to cities. So the people slowly and silently moved to the cities. A new era of modernization started, sophisticated technologies emerged on the horizon. With the new scientific discoveries, new technological inventions completely changed humans perspectives. Population and urbanization is simultaneously goes hand in hand, increasing day by day. Every resident has several reasons to migrate from rural to urban. Consequently, this migration and urbanization has largely affected environmental health of the society. To keep in mind, population growth and urbanization can cause severe health issues like diseases, food scarcity, less employment opportunities, clean drinking water and above all social injustices and crime rates. Urbanization without proper planning is an environmental degradation. In the last few years, a new phenomenon has been emerged in shape of housing societies/schemes; which ultimately causes floods and increasing temperature on one hand, on the other side, poor planned schemes endanger agricultural and fertile land.  To tackle the issues logically, our policy makers, experts in the ministries, divisions should devise plans and fix the deadlines for the executions, in the best interests of the mother land. In deed, in the near future, more people, mega cities are becoming into existence, These mega cities will definitely grow horizontally by grabbing more agricultural land. Buildings, construction will replace farming land, which is not a good sign for clean and green environment. Lets make the people aware about the power of knowledge, In today's knowledge based world, skills based people are required. In these mega cities the opportunities of skills may be provided to every citizen. Because every citizen has the right to live in harmony and dignity.   

By Painda Mand