Rural Urban Socio-economic Gap in Pakistan
Massive amounts of money spent on developments in big cities, economic race, better health, education, and infrastructure including transportation facilities have widened the urban and rural socio-economic gap across the country. On the other hand, a large demographic shift towards urban areas is creating a mess there.
Similarly, the racial and ethnic gap between the rural and urban populations is also increasing which is one of the main causes of social evils and conflicts in different societies and communities. Poor education and health facilities including transportation and connectivity issues in rural areas have widened the gap in socio-economics in Pakistani society.
Rationale
Because of the increase in the socio-economic gap between rural and urban areas, political, cultural, ethical, moral, and socio-economic differences are not only increasing but creating a rift among the masses. It is, therefore, the need of the time and we have to understand the reasons behind the increase in the rural and urban gap including fixing it and later on addressing it by finding certain solutions as well as narrowing down this gap in the larger interest of prosperous, peaceful and happy Pakistan.
Synopsis
After seeking independence from colonial rule in Indian Sub-continent, Pakistan fell into the well of so many problems and particularly after the death of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah this rich in resources but newly established state couldn’t capitalize on its strengths and understand the different dynamics of consolidation and progress.
Due to a flaw in political leadership that emerged soon after the death of Jinnah, opportunists including martial law dictators and civil bureaucrats took full advantage of it which created an unending crisis and a lack of long-term future planning that could put Pakistan on right track. Internal conflicts and greed for personal interests as well as political rivalry for power and wrong policies eventually caused the separation of East Pakistan (Bangladesh).
Although history reflects that Pakistan started its reshaping and moving on in the right direction in the mid-70s period but soon after martial law was imposed by dictator General Zia-ul-Haq, we again lost our way toward a prosperous and developed Pakistan. Poor quality of education, and political, social, ethnic, and sectarian crises further internally weakened Pakistan, and as a result it Pakistani nation was divided into different political, ethnic, and regional groups.
On the other hand conflict with India, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, and the use of Pakistani soil by America on different occasions not only destabilized Pakistan internally but externally as well. The uncertain situation in the country that has been emerging time and again has reached Pakistan to a point of no return.
It is very unfortunate that even in today’s Pakistan we are not clear about priorities and policies and we have fixed our internal as well as external problems and issues including paying attention to the huge number of population that is settled in the countryside areas of our country.
Where is the Problem?
It is very important to understand the dynamics of Urban and Rural areas first. In this regard, an urban area is actually a thickly populated city area where most of its inhabitants are non-agriculturists rather they have different jobs including businesses and better life living facilities like education, health, roads, transportation, railways, bridges, commercial buildings, and better infrastructure.
Contrary to that a rural area is a countryside area that is thinly populated but covers large areas. In rural life usually, there are hardly any facilities and better civic life opportunities as compared to urban areas. However, in advanced countries of the world, rural areas are also well established having better connectivity and transportation system alongside other basic facilities for civic life.
Pakistan is a thickly populated and fifth largest populated country in the world where 37% of its total population lives in urban areas and the remaining 63% in rural and semi-urban areas which makes Pakistan the most urbanized country in South Asia. Pakistan is basically an agricultural country. Economists of the world consider Pakistan as one of the parts of a wealthier regions of the world.
The economy of Pakistan is the 23rd largest economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and the 42nd largest economy in terms of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to huge agricultural productivity throughout the year. Similarly, Pakistan is one of the largest producers in terms of natural commodities, and its labor market is the 10th largest market in the world.
The very secret of Pakistan’s development and prosperity, therefore, lies in Agriculture, Industry, Services, and Tourism which is only possible when there is a narrow socio-economic gap between the urban and rural population of the country. Similarly, Pakistan has more than enough natural resources which if utilized properly, sensibly, effectively, carefully, and technologically can change the fate of Pakistan.
What is the Socio-economic Urban & Rural
Gap?
When we see and observe the interconnectivity between rural and urban areas in the larger national interest of development and prosperity of Pakistan, we find a very huge gap there which is why Pakistan is still struggling to find its way in the right direction.
It is very obvious and no more rocket science to understand that if 37% (urban population) and 63% (rural population) lack proper coordination and connectivity between each other in terms of education, health, roads, transportation, and infrastructure, how can Pakistan then develop and sustain its advancement for long term.
Similarly, the population living in rural areas works very hard and even under extreme weather conditions in terms of agricultural productivity to generate the country’s economy as well as run the businesses and industry but in return gets nothing. The role of the middle-man (broker/agent/businessman) is of a bloodsucker who gets the full advantage of it by making money for himself only.
On the other hand, the government spends a huge amount of its budget on
development inside urban areas (37% population) and almost ignores the rural
areas (63% population), which eventually leads us toward a low literacy ratio,
poor health, injustice, lawlessness, abrogation of fundamental rights and
corruption. Adding to it, poor transportation, roads, and connectivity
facilities cost huge economic losses to the country including price hikes and
inflation in the utilities and commodities.
How to Bridge and Reduce
this Gap?
As far as bridging and reducing the gap between rural and urban populations is concerned, we first of all need to realize that we are wasting (63%) of our population by not spending sufficient on them. Comparably, we need to treat them equally by offering them equal opportunities in every walk of life.
It is also pivotal to keep in mind that the countryside area provides us important raw materials (agricultural productivity) for our industry and businesses therefore if we educate them properly, and technically and provide them proper connectivity and accessibility opportunities it will surely pay us back in the shape of economy-boosting and sustainable growth in GDP.
The government of the day also needs to understand that rural areas contribute heavily to direct and indirect tax collection therefore substantial infrastructure must be the priority of the government to bridge this gap which is widening day by day. On the other hand, we need to build industrial structures in countryside areas across the country to reduce the burden on big cities and control urbanization which has reached an alarming situation.
The concept of smart and sustainable cities has become inevitable
for Pakistan to manage the masses which is only possible through better planning and
by providing equal opportunities in every nook and corner of the country
without any kind of discrimination and overlooking.
Conclusion
Pakistan has got enormous potential as a country, the only thing which we require is to believe in ourselves that we are also a very talented, capable, and hardworking nation like any other nation in the world.
However, what we need is to unite and above all need to
bridge the gap between rural and urban areas in the larger interest of the
country by giving respect to each and every single citizen irrespective of caste, color, creed, ethnicity, and religion so that we may emerge as one of
the developing nations in the world. Last but not the least, we need to fix
this issue as it is one of the hindrances to the development and prosperity of
Pakistan.
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