Population Growth and Inter-Provincial Economic Disparity

Abstract

Pakistan’s population growth is the highest in Asia, yet savings is the lowest. By looking at the concept and meaning of development, this paper analyzes how population growth, along with problems of bad governance, inter-provincial and intra-provincial economic disparities, and poor–rich divides have affected Pakistan’s economic development. The study focuses on the relationship between population growth and economic development by looking at the Malthusian population trap theory, taking Pakistan as a contemporary case study. Also discussed is whether population growth is an actual problem behind poverty and underdevelopment, or whether the problem is caused by something else, such as unequal distribution of wealth between developed and developing nations or poor–rich divides. The paper addresses the political Left’s point of view and looks at inter-provincial economic disparity in Pakistan. Having discussed the problems of population growth and inter-provincial economic disparity in Pakistan through comparative study of Punjab, the most populated and highly developed province, with other provinces of Pakistan, specifically Balochistan, through analyzing the merger of Balochistan with Pakistan to the emergence of the Baloch separatist movement, this paper shows possible ways to resolve these issues in light of social, political, and religious issues prevailing in Pakistani society today.