Over Population leads to numerous socio economic problems but the most drastic one is the environment degradation and climate change, which demands an equilibrium between population and resources so the basic needs of humans like food, health and other social necessities on earth can be fulfilled. According to the modern rules of economics, there is no yardstick of population in any state specially after the rise of China as politico-economic giant. Important is the government' check on population growth, so the resources and means are accordingly managed, and services and amenities are adequately extended to people.
The UN and affiliate countries commemorate World
Population Day (July 11) to enhance awareness on population issues particularly
related to family planning, gender inequality and women empowerment. However in
Karachi city, the Population crisis has diverse outlooks and drastic
consequences. The phenomenon of population growth here is in the shape of rapid
and unchecked urbanisation which is affecting environment and development
sector.
Some years ago international institution Economic
Intelligence Unit did a survey of 22 megacities of Asia. A part from Karachi, the
other cities were Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Banglore from India, Beijing, Shanghais,
Taipei and Hong Kong from China, Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka from Japan, besides
Bangkok, Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Seoul were also included amongst
the megacities. Thereafter the institution released the "Asian Green City
Index" in which Karachi was declared the last in the list of
"Environment Friendly" cities precisely because of poor air quality, inferior
sewerage system and improper transport facilities.
Besides the other indicators that were cast in the
Green City Index were energy consumption, emission of CO2, land use and
high-rise, waste management, water accessibility and environmental governance
in these 22 cities. The report further insinuated
the trend of urbanisation in the region and said that by 2026 half of the Asian
population would become urbanised. The study said that Karachi being one of the
world 'fastest growing metropolises ranks well-below average in the Index.
How and why Karachi reached to that level? The
answer is given by another study that titles " Urbanisation, Gender &
Violence in Millennial Karachi", and was conducted two years ago. The
study termed the over population and unchecked urbanisation of Karachi as the
mother of all evils which mainly leads the city to crimes and law and disorder.
The study pointed out that in 1998 the population of Karachi was 9.8 million
which went to 21.12 million in 2011 at a sizable rise of 115% and that
drastically deteriorate the political economy and metropolitan government in
the city. The displacements after the Afghan civil war and army operations in
Waziristan, migration from rural Sindh and Punjab, flood affectees were all the
main contributors of quick population growth in Karachi, and that changed out
and out the social and demographic fabric of the city.
Their accommodation was an unresolved phenomenon and
that further led to the growth of Katchi Abadies from 200 to more than 500 in a
short span. Still, it is estimated that more than 60% of city population live
without shelters. According to Study this insecurity generated lawlessness,
weaponisation, ransom, extortion, gang war, street crimes and target killing in
the city and in the due course the government played a role of facilitators of
lawlessness rather controlling the law and disorder.
Today, Karachi population is estimated at nearly 25
million, which may be doubled in 2050 if not checked. Experts says, thereafter administration
and government in the city would become impossible for both provincial and
federal government because this over-populated city is already facing the
problems of traffic jam, shortage of water and electricity, poor sanitation and
sewerage system, while still a sizable amount of people in the city are
deprived of food, health and education facilities. It is a high time on July 11, 2017 for state
authorities to seriously think about Karachi before things get out of control.
By
Editorial, Infocus
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