Imagine a vast field planted with seeds—if left unchecked, the field becomes overcrowded, choking the growth of individual plants and depleting the soil of essential nutrients. Similar is the case with our country’s population growth; with each passing year, more strain is added to the country’s finite resources. As of 2023, Pakistan’s population has surpassed 241 million, making it the fifth-most populous nation globally (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics). This explosive growth has led to severe stress on public services, infrastructure, and economic opportunities. Like an overgrown field that needs careful pruning and nurturing, Pakistan also requires deliberate and informed strategies to address its population challenges.

Major cities of the country, like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad/Rawalpindi, bear the brunt of urban overpopulation. Karachi, the economic hub of Pakistan, has a population density of over 24,000  people per square kilometer. According to a report by UNICEF, Lahore has roughly 30% of its settlements as slums, and these slums are home to an estimated population of 1.7 million people. The proportion of the urban slum population in Lahore has reached the upper limit threshold of the city’s total population. However, Islamabad, though smaller, faces the challenges of unplanned urban sprawl as it attracts migrants seeking better opportunities.

Furthermore, Interior Sindh, southern Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) experience high birth rates with limited access to healthcare and education. According to the Pakistan Geographical Review, the total fertility rate in Sindh is 3.6 births per woman, which is higher than the world average of 2.4. The analysis also mentions that the total fertility rate in Punjab is also high, with 3.6 births per woman. In addition to this, the Population Welfare Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa states that the total fertility rate in KPK is 4.0 births per woman. Equally important is the healthcare dilemma. According to the World Bank, Sindh has significant disparities in healthcare access, with maternal mortality rates at 224 per 100,000 live births and under-5 mortality at 77 per 1,000 live births. The report also mentions that KPK also grapples with similar issues, having a maternal mortality rate of 175 per 100,000 live births and an under-5 mortality rate of 64 per 1,000 live births. Likewise, Southern Punjab faces poorer health outcomes compared to other regions in Punjab, struggling with limited access to healthcare services. The lack of infrastructure and family planning awareness in these areas perpetuates cycles of poverty and resource scarcity. The 2017 Census conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics indicated that regions like Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab and Tharparkar in Sindh have some of the highest dependency ratios, emphasising the burden of overpopulation on rural economies.

Bridging Outdated Jail........

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