My home province, Sindh, is at crossroads. Its population is alarmingly increasing. Natives and immigrants – more than ten millions and with the latest influx of Burmese, among others –are adding millions to its population but unfortunately nothing is visible in any form about the so-called population welfare in the province. It is evident that this province has the highest ratio of population growth and illegal immigrants; hence it would be extremely difficult for its institutions to keep up with expanding population pressures on all sectors, from water, sanitation, agriculture, health, housing to education.
Shockingly, the province has a poor infrastructure. Like the past rulers, the present rulers who are about to complete their five-year term have done nothing to build the infrastructure. It is noticed that the obnoxious policy of “ad hocism” is at work in the relevant department and it does not augur well for the performance of any department. If nothing is done, then the present rulers have to face the immense wrath of their voters who are deprived and denied. However, the provincial population welfare department is requested to take determined steps for population and family welfare. The sooner it is done, the better it would be to contain the population explosion in the province. Above all, concrete steps may be taken to deport illegal immigrants who are criminalizing the pacifist, progressive, democratic and tolerant Sindhi society.
HASHIM ABRO
Islamabad