Pakistan’s Huge Population

Pakistan’s Huge Population

In the past sixty years, Pakistan’s population has grown from 32.5 million to 156.77 million (Pakistan Population…, 2007). While Pakistan could not decrease its fertility rate, in the 1950s its government used a program in an effort to reduce the population. It was a method to control how many children a family could have, but it ended up failing, since the population and economy did not grow at equal rates (The Population Bomb, 2006). Furthermore, the Pakistani government did not enforce the population programs, because some population experts advocated having a huge population, which could bring many advantages to developing country (Pakistan Population…, 2007).

However, the poor economic infrastructure caused the Pakistani government to fall short in its provision of medical care and civil services for its people. Moreover, the poor medical care also increased the infant mortality rate, so people had to have more children in an effort to balance out the growing mortality rate. As a result, the high infant mortality rate led to a higher fertility rate, which is another factor in the huge population in Pakistan (The Population Bomb, 2006).

However, some people who have worked in the Pakistani government believe that increasing the population has many advantages for a developing country. There are three reasons to prove this: first, a large population helps economic growth; second, a large population brings more human resources to country; third, a large population attracts foreign investment.

According to “Pakistan Population,” from the past sixty years through the next fifty years, different generations have caused and will cause three different population age structures to occur in Pakistan. In the past, both fertility rates and mortality rate were increasing, which caused the population age structure to be shaped like a triangle. It led to large numbers of young people to being dependent upon their parents. It also created fewer labor resources for investment and economic growth (Pakistan Population…, 2007). Presently, fertility rate and mortality rate are decreasing, which is causing the population age structure of Pakistan to be shaped like a vase. The bottom of the age structure is reduced, which means the fewer young people are even more dependent upon their parents. Moreover, there is a greater working-age population, which is attracting more foreign investment and subsequently economic growth (New Budget…, 2007). Third, in the future, fertility rates as well as old-age mortality rates are expected to decrease, which will cause the population age structure of Pakistan to be shaped like a cup. It will also cause the numbers of young people moving into the working age to slow down and working-age people to move out of the workforce gradually (Pakistan Population…, 2007). This situation can still be beneficial for Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan is in the second population age structure, which is very beneficial to the Pakistani government (Demographic Dividend, 2007); we can see some discussion below.

First of all, a developing country needs a high population to support its economy, because it can help a developing country’s economic growth in the form of an increase in human resources. Manpower is the most important element in economic growth. If a developing country has a high population, it will see many benefits that will stimulate its economy (Demographic Dividend…, 2007). For example, a high population can help many companies easily hire employees, thereby increasing productivity. People can also more easily save and invest their income in order to care for their family, which can increase the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and GNP (Gross National Product) showing the strength of the country. Therefore, if a developing country does not have a good economy, it should consider developing the population first.

Second, a developing country that has a large population will bring more human resources to develop itself (Demographic Dividend…, 2007). This point is very important because a large population can produce many kinds of talents and experts to help a country flourish. For example, a large population can produce many doctors to treat patients, many architects to build lots of buildings, many teachers to educate students, or many lawyers to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise as to legal rights and obligations in other matters. Also, a large population can bring great manpower to develop the military force. For instance, lots of manpower can enforce three kinds of military force: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The army is the most needed source of manpower, because when a country gets attacked it has to use the army to defend itself.

In addition, manpower is important for transportation and living. As for the transportation, people need several kinds of transportation in daily life. For example, we need airplanes to take us abroad or trucks to transport goods. Therefore, people need manpower to create the transportation tools and make their lives more convenient and productive. And as for the living environment, buildings are important and they are dependent upon manpower to construct them. For example, people need houses in which to live, they need mosques or churches in which to pray, they need schools in which to learn, and so on. That is why manpower is so important.

Third, a large population can also attract more foreign investment, because it can create lots of dividends for investors (Demographic Dividend…, 2007). For example, people have more job opportunities in hand-made factories, because hand-made products are more valuable than machine-made products. More factories can have higher quality products because the owner of the factory can hire more employees to check products. Large human resources can also establish different kinds of services for people (New Budget…, 2007). For instance, a company can provide customers the best services in fixing, selling, and changing products. Also, if a country has a large population, its labor force costs less, so it makes a good benefit for investors. Not only do the investors hire lots of labor resources to produce products, but also they increase production of products. A large population represents the fact that more goods and services are consumed, because people need to spend money on their needs, which will increase investors’ financial investment (Demographic Dividend…, 2007).

Some people say that a large population is harmful to a country and people, and it will cause a country to have poor medical care and education and also fewer jobs (The Population Bomb, 2006). However, in my opinion, this is not the case, because some developing countries have huge populations, and yet continue to thrive. China is a good example of this. China has around 1.3 billion people, but its people still have opportunities to get an education, medical care, and jobs, because the government has a good policy that protects its people (China's Population Grew About 7 Million, 2007). Similarly, even though Pakistan has a high population, there are still lots of benefits for Pakistani people. Pakistan’s large population gives companies the opportunity to hire large labor forces, so people will have more opportunities to get jobs, and produce more experts to support their country (Demographic Dividend, 2007).

In conclusion, I agree with some people who say that a large population brings much benefit to their country. A large population helps economic growth, brings more human resources to support its country, and also attracts more foreign investment, because it can generate lots of dividends for investors. Pakistan’s government knows a large population is a resource for a developing country. That is why they do not enforce their population-control programs for reducing their population. This proves a high population has many advantages for a developing country.


Reference

China's Population Grew About 7 Million. (2007, March 1). Associated Press Online. Retrieved July 27, 2007, from LexisNexis database.

Demographic Dividend Can Help Fuels Economic Growth. (2007, July 5). Business Recorder. Retrieved July 15, 2007, from LexisNexis database.

New Budget Will Be Rife with Promises. (2007, June 6). Gulf News. Retrieved July 15, 2007, from LexisNexis database.

Pakistan Population Stands at 156.77 Million During 2006-07. (2007, June 8). Frontier Star. Retrieved July 10, 2007, from LexisNexis database.

The Population Bomb. (2006, November 21). Business Recorder. Retrieved July 10, 2007, from LexisNexis database.

By Marc Chang
EAP2 Writer's workshop
Mr. LEVERETT
Research Paper