Increasing unemployment

Unemployment is an acute problem of Pakistan. This serious problem must be dealt with in an efficient manner, if we wish to avoid social revolution. Government efforts to create nominal employment are counter-productive as it draws resources from productive sectors, where the generation of national income and direct and indirect employment opportunities are likely to be higher. The culture of nepotism has led to the alarming level of unemployment in the country. The deserving candidates do not get jobs and the people who have ‘links’ easily get jobs of their choice. Another reason for unemployment is that the number of industries is not increasing in Pakistan. The shortage of capital is an important cause of unemployment in a developing country like Pakistan. Low savings leads to low investment, which ultimately results in low capital formation. When rate of capital accumulation is low, unemployment will be the natural outcome of the situation.

The population of Pakistan is increasing at a rate of 1.9 percent per annum due to which more than one million people enter the job market each year. In Pakistan, the solution to the unemployment problem lies in an energetic industrial revival, sustained economic growth and effective control on birth rate. The government should provide loans to the unemployed skilled labour to promote self-employment. The government should also encourage the setting up of small industries, particularly in rural areas. The government must consider the matter and find out a way to help the unemployed in a concrete manner so that they may be able to play their due role in economic development of the country.

Syed Muhammad Salman (Karachi)