Pakistan fault line – Population explosion
Khalid Khokhar

WHILE the Government is confronted with host of emergent problems relating to restive Balochistan, suicide bombing, political tug-of-war in the upcoming election-2007, it has not put Pakistan’s fault lines in the backburners - over-population, economic development, abject poverty, provincial autonomy, water needs, literacy rate, social/cultural development, urbanization, environmental hazards, etc and etc. Vision-2030 launched by the Government in August 2007 presented the vision of a “developed, industrialized, just and prosperous Pakistan through rapid and sustainable development, in a resource constrained economy by deploying knowledge inputs”. One of the basic objectives of the Vision-2030 is to reduce the population growth rate from 1.9 percent to 1 percent. If the present rate of sprouting population goes unchecked, it would double by 2030 and would move the country towards the worst-ever crises in near future. Pakistan would have the world’s fifth largest population ranging between 230 and 260 million, of which 130-140 million are expected to be living in urban areas. This transition will be part of the global population dynamics whereby population will rise from current 6.3 billion to at least 8.2 billion by 2030, and more people will live in cities than rural areas. This has major implications for availability and sustainability of resources needed for mankind to survive. Pakistan is confronted with a horrendous problem of over population. As estimated in 2007, by Wikipedia, Pakistan with 169,270,617 people living on its soil is the sixth most populous country on the globe and fourth in Asia. Pakistan’s rural population constitutes about two-thirds of the total population. However, it is now the most urbanized country in South Asia, with some 58 million people living in cities. This number is increasing at rates of 3.3 percent (nearly three times faster than in rural areas) as a result of the structural transformation of the economy and migration to urban areas in expectations of better employment opportunities and higher incomes. The urban population is, therefore, expected to rise by another 70-80 million by 2030, or nearly two-thirds of the total population.
The most important pressure of uncontrollable population growth is on the country’s economy. The experts in Pakistan say that with increase in population, employment, health, education and other civic amenities are not being increased accordingly, thus creating an imbalance between population and resources. The economic growth is very important for higher level of economic development. Pakistan’s economy has grown faster than the world average during the last 25 years, with particularly high growth rates of 7 - 8.4 percent since 2003. The foreign exchange reserves have increased several fold and the rupee has shown stability against US dollar. As per government’s latest statistics, the GDP per capita is US $847 (Rs 51,000/- or Rs 4,250/- per month), life expectancy has improved to 64 years, and literacy rate of adult population has crossed well over 50%. Financial advisors and economists forecast that once Pakistan crosses the $1,000 threshold, as China did in the year 2005, it will become a middle-income country with a lucrative domestic market of 165 million consumers. The progress achieved in various sectors should stay in conformity with the decline in population growth, so the fruit of development may be trickled down to the common man. The targets of the Vision 2030 programme is to build an economy worth $1 trillion ($141 billion in 2006-07), and raising per capita income from $925, to $4,000 by the year 2030. It is, therefore, imperative to contain the rapid population graph in the country to ensure “sustainable economic growth rate” as it is essential to bring improvement in the quality of life of the people. The Government is committed to stem population growth rate so that better health care facilities are provided to the people and their quality of life is improved. If the target of 1 per cent population growth rate is achieved, the benefits of economic development in the country will begin to expand to the lower-middle and lower classes, where they are most required.
European countries have shown tremendous resolute in containing their population increase. Due to well-thought policies marked by importance attributed to small family, the population of Europe’s 47 nations is projected to decline from 728 million this year to 653 million in 2050. China brought down the country’s rapid population growth by encouraging “one-child family” and providing the family with free education until the age of 18. Bangladesh recorded impressive gains in slowing population growth by adopting the slogan “chhoto paribar, sukhi paribar” (small family, happy family). The religious clerics in Bangladesh, would inform people about the significance of family planning in their sermons, distributed contraceptives and literature to spread awareness about the importance of family planning and safe sex. Egypt controlled its burgeoning population through the “fatwas and edicts” issued from various centres of Islamic learning endorsing family planning. Egypt has registered a swift decline in their population growth rates. Apart from Egyptian model, countries where the ulema have been participating in the population programme by mobilizing support for it, such as Indonesia, the demographic growth rate has fallen remarkably.
How to negotiate this fault line and put a brake on the unabated population growth? If population growth spirals out of control, it poses severe challenges to the society. Rise in unemployment at national level, fragile infrastructure and problems of housing and food security are the product of increasing population. We have to overcome these problems, and the only way out is that a moderate population guarantees for our national development. Pakistan has devised a grand population control strategy by adopting a wholesome approach to address the issue of over-population. It has identified China, Bangladesh and Egypt as “role model” for a more focused approach on the issue of population growth. No doubt, the programme will be hit by the leaders of different religio-political parties and very less support for the “use of contraception” is forthcoming from the hardline Islamic scholars. But, there is a dire need to tell people that they can rely on one or two well-educated children. Learning from “Chinese model” Pakistan has also enforced its population control programme by encouraging “one-child family” as it is being enforced in China. A family unit having one or two children may be given all benefits, like sustenance allowance during studentship, free compulsory education along with free supply of books, primary healthcare facility, etc., under National Security Scheme. Secondly, learning from Bangladeshi experiment, the Government has sought the services of ulema to motivate and change the social attitudes of the people towards gender equality and family size and use of contraceptive and safe sex. On the other hand, the Government is also trying to improve the contraceptive delivery services in the country, especially in the rural areas. The role of the ulema in the population sector can have a profound impact because they are the most powerful agents of communication and can mould public opinion in the country through the mosques and their Friday sermon. Thirdly, following the Egyptian model, Pakistan can control its burgeoning population through the fatwas issued by renowned ulemas approving family planning. The Government has planned to seek the services of teachers, intellectuals and prayer-leaders so as to create awareness amongst general masses regarding the importance of small family instrumental in reducing the birth rate to acceptable limits. In this process, 13,000 people from all over the country have undergone training for the crash courses for prayer-leaders (Imams) and teachers. These courses were focused on family planning in line with the teachings of Islam. The Friday prayer leaders need to persuade namizees to actively cooperate in mobilizing support for the programme. They need to give two messages - Islam does not oppose family planning as is widely believed now and the small family norm is the need of the hour. Secondly, the imams also need to convince their congregations that women have been accorded a dignified and equal status in Islam. The Government has established regional training centres (RTIS) in various cities to impart training to the family welfare worker (FWW), motivators, paramedics and doctors on technical aspects. This wholesome approach to an issue has worked and paying dividends. If the plans work effectively, this could be achieved even before 2030. Pakistanis will be better educated, better fed, and better served due to much improved handling of our national fault lines. Only then, Pakistan can become an important nation state of the 21st century.

Harmony in action
Gina Caballero

AFTER coming out from the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall this summer, I took a stroll on one of the city’s hot and humid afternoons. Impressed by the scale plan designed to rejuvenate already modern Shanghai, I headed off to the People’s Square to reflect on the exhibition I had just seen. Strolling my way onto the square, my thoughts on space development (i.e. Nanjinglu has not really been moved but just adapted to the times) were blown away by a real-time painting happening before my eyes. I have often found that traveling around China I run into these beautiful peaceful paintings, where, as an observer, I cannot but admire how landscapes and people draw pictures together. And in Shanghai this was just another one of those moments.
I watched as a beautiful young girl in a pretty red dress was bending over feeding a group of mostly white pigeons. There she was with what appeared to be her grandmother, scattering maize kernels for the birds. The girl was in her own world as she watched the pigeons flying around her. Granny ran around fanning the air to keep the girl cool. I took out my camera to capture the moment. The girl was so caught up in the moment and in tune with her surroundings she didn’t even notice me photographing her. For me this was a real-time painting and an expression of perfect harmony.
I turned to leave with this image firmly stuck in my mind. To my surprise, just 50 meters away there were three children playing with another flock of pigeons. Quite puzzled I watched as they chased after them, scaring them away. Confronted with contrasts I realized the relation between nature and humanity is more than ethical. It is not only about respecting nature’s qi (vital energy), but also of understanding that as such it is a living being, with its own force.
Each person’s behavior impacts on another person’s actions. Admiring and cohabiting with nature therefore helps us discover our human essence.
That relationship between people and nature must happen step by step, just as the process in all kinds of relationships. Once our actions act upon the perceptions of our surroundings, our individual and social development will be aligned to nature’s environment. But to do so, as has been happening in China since its opening-up, entails opening up our minds to nature. Despite the drawbacks economic development has forced onto the environment in China, these have also meant that Chinese people have taken nature’s charm to their hearts.
Just a couple of weeks ago I visited the China Art Gallery (always an excellent place to get lost in thought) where a superb exhibition of the works of the Zhou Brothers was on display. Their art, embracing the elements harmony, attests to the growing relationship between heaven and earth. Beginning with their early From Heaven to Earth series back in 1980, the well-renowned Zhou Brothers clearly differentiated the foothold where heaven and earth stand. The careful oil painted lines and traces bordering men’s figures signals the first step in their blending with heaven. The distinct distance between them tells of their awareness of each other’s existence. While not yet engaging, heaven and earth are receptive towards each other.
Through perception people and nature gradually shape their uniqueness and interact according to each other. Hence, men give themselves to rituals to show respect to earth and heaven. The Zhou Brothers explored enchanting rituals in a 1995 canvas entitled Moon Dance. Moving our bodies-and as a Latin American I can testify-allows us to express our emotions outwardly to heaven. Yet it is not only about sharing our essence under heaven but also about sharing it among people here on earth. After all, what is heaven if not its reflected magic in nature? And what is earth if is not the ritual of men?
The practice of rituals as Confucius once said establishes one’s character. Through the rules of rituals we shape our behavior and consequently the relationships between people. By connecting heaven and earth, both balance in harmony. Thus, internalizing heaven on earth becomes the driving force in the Zhou Brothers’ The Heaven in Love series in 2000. In these, men’ silhouettes taking over their past figures herald their harmony with heaven, where one cannot be without the other. Love therefore is witness to the process in which harmony develops socially embedded individuals.
In China, as her children and art illustrate, the enabling conditions are emerging for such a process to extend its reach not only to the hearts of the rest of her people, but also to those of the international community living in her land. As the Shanghainese little girl performed the beauty of her social role, setting an example to her peers nearby, so the fabulous art of the Zhou Brothers is just another invitation for all of us to bond in harmony.

(The Daily Mail-Beijing Review Articles Exchange Item)




These unstoppable women
Joyce Njeri

JUST for the record, I am not a feminist. It not often that we get to celebrate the achievements made by women across the globe.
So this week I break the usual tradition and recognise women who have cracked the political glass ceiling by risking their guts in the ‘mucky’ business. I must point out that this article has been inspired by the return of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s to mainstream politics and yesterday’s election win of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the first female president of Argentina. There are plenty of examples of women succeeding in traditionally male dominated professions, whether running a company, a large corporation or even a country. But I will however, limit this piece to politics alone since this is one area many women have shied away, owing to its dirty history.
To us, the women who have dared tread in the murky waters and cracked their way through are an immense inspiration and they send out a strong message that women too can make great leaders. Normally, when the so called feminists start talking about gender equality or girl power, men become cold. But let’s recognise the fact that were it not for these women activists, majority of women wouldn’t be where they are today. When a ‘gender’ issue comes up, some men go ‘come on, you’ve gotten too much already. What more do you want?’
Yes, we may have come a long way, but we still have a very long way to go before we have an equal share of the real power in this world. Granted, women in politics are making inroads around the world, but still these are just small victories. I know there are plenty of aggressive women in the political business. But there are plenty more who fear the label of ‘unladylike’, which prevents them from making the tough decisions and rising to the top positions. I’ve given a few examples of women leaders from countries both large and small, who have blazed the trail. Some of them were elected, some were appointed, some were compromise candidates, some are highly controversial, while others are basking in the glory of their husbands’ popularity.
The new gal on the block is Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. She’s been called the ‘Latin Hillary Clinton,’ but yesterday, Cristina made history like no other woman has in her country. CFK, as she’s fondly known in Argentina, went from senator and being the country’s first lady, to being the first female elected president. According to news reports, most Argentines agreed that she’s the woman for the job. That’s two cheers for the ladies. Early this year, Pratibha Patil, India’s first woman president, romped into power after winning a comprehensive election victory. Mrs Patil, 72, won nearly two-thirds of votes cast in state assemblies and in India’s parliament. In her victory speech, Patil said her election will be a boost to millions of Indian women. I couldn’t agree more.
In neighbouring Pakistan, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s October 18 return after about eight years in self-exile was bound to be a pivotal moment in Pakistani politics, and thus, also will likely to be a violent one. The people of Karachi turned out in huge numbers to greet Bhutto in an event marked by bomb attacks that left 136 people dead and many injured. She has however, vowed to fight Pakistan’s dissidents and go on with her campaign plans. You go gal... In Africa, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a Harvard-educated economist and former World Bank official, waged a fierce presidential campaign against her male opponent and emerged victorious, last year. The war-torn country of Liberia made history by electing the first woman as head of state in modern African history.

—Khaleej Times