I've been part of over a dozen research projects on national security. Multiple factors contribute to our envmt. However one constant that crops up in all, is our unchecked, underdeveloped population.
I didn't say over population because having a large young population is...1/9
..an asset, it is called "demographic dividend". However, if that youth is not properly educated and groomed it could be a curse rather than a dividend.
Family planning was intro in the 60s. It appealed to the middle class and was adopted. Resultantly, the most imp faction ..2/9
..of the society started shrinking. The lower class on the other hand ballooned. This Paradox created a unique envmt. The cheap manpower socio-economic system. Unplanned and unchecked, it turned bad. A certain community started producing kids as a means of earnings
....3/n
.... example of a poor family with a drug addict father, a poor mother working as a Masi in an avg middle class house, and a dozen kids.
Now this family can't feed, educate or groom their kids. So what happens, the girl child usually ends up working with her mother and boys 4/n
..work at workshops, puncture shops etc or shoved into a madrasa for the molvi to use them anyway his own business thrives, from terrorists cannon fodder to a pesh imam, depending on how lucky he had been.
Ask their miserable father, why has he produced so many kids; reply 5/n
..would be, "saab ji bachay nahin hon gey to kamai ga kaun..".
This family's daughters would end up marrying another drug addict and with the fate of their mother. Sons would be criminals like motorway rapist, miscreants like Fazlullah or addicts like their father.
.. 6/n
Pak is at the bottom of all global rankings. This part of population is a major contributor.
Its a sad reflection on us as humans. These unfortunate children are our responsibility .
Tackling it is huge challenge, a socio-cultural nightmare; however not insurmountable.. ..7/n
A strong population control drive won't work given our religious/ social values. But there is a solution as well, pretty much in accordance with our religion.
I suggest a "Parental Responsibility Act.
Wherever a child under 18 is seen doing a petty job, the father should
8/n
..be detained under the act and made to work on Govt projects. His salary to be used to feed and educate his children under Govt+Community supervision.
Mark my words, this would result into an automatic population control in addition to a much required HRD
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