Bisma Narejo
Pakistan is not one of the largest countries in the world – it doesn’t rank in the top 10 by landmass – and yet it has the fifth largest population in the world. There are more than 220,000,000 people living in Pakistan, although due to the high refugee rate from surrounding countries such as Afghanistan, the actual number of people living in Pakistan could be much higher Despite its large population and reputation as one of the fastest urbanising countries in South Asia, it is not a rich country. It’s clear to see how around 35% of the entire population (77,000,000 people) are living below the poverty line, with many of them unable to support their own basic needs. It’s estimated that there are around 20 million homeless people in Pakistan. That’s around 9% of the total population. Most of them are living in temporary accommodation, refuges, slums, or on the street. In fact, over 40% of the population of Karachi, Pakistan’s capital city, are living in slums. That’s approximately 5.9 million people. In addition to that, around 200,000 people are thought to sleep on the streets. This presents its own problems. With limited access to education, the chances of finding a skilled, well-paying job are low. This further perpetuates the risk of living in poverty, especially if the male breadwinner dies and leaves his family destitute as is so often the case. Pakistan is a country that is particularly prone to natural disasters and the effects of climate changed. With ongoing droughts, cyclones, floods, and rising temperatures, millions more could lose their homes; especially those who live in slums and unstable housing For those who are living on the streets, their chances of survival in intense summer heat and sweeping autumn cyclones is low, making it all the more important we get vulnerable people into suitable housing where they can protect themselves from the increasingly more volatile elements. The government in Pakistan has launched a shelter initiative to build homes for those without one, but due to the pandemic, the project has yet to come into fruition. It could be years before the target is reached, by which time millions more will find themselves without a home.
