Immigrants in Pakistan
Based on the World Population Policies 2005 report given by the United Nations, the total number of immigrants in Pakistan were approximately three million, two hundred and fifty four thousand people. This figure represented 2.1 percent of the total number of people present in the country and this stood at position thirteen in the world ranking. From that time (2005), the number of immigrants in Pakistan has been going up rapidly. Basing on the UN International Migration Profiles 2002, the total number of the immigrants in Pakistan was one million, ninety eight thousand and one hundred and ten people in the year 1990 and in the year 2000, this number rose to one million, four hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred and sixty people (United Nations. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division, p. 350).
Refugee Measures
In a period of more than thirty years that have just passed, Pakistan has been known to host the greatest number of refugees more than any other country in the world. This country has portrayed great commitment to offer protection to the refugees from Afghanistan. At the time the year 2001 was coming to an end, Pakistan was hosting about five million refugees from Afghanistan (Rummery, Para 3).
After some refugees from Afghanistan went back to their country, as per the year 2009, about 1.78 million refugees who were registered still stayed in Pakistan. On top of this, there were approximately three thousand asylum seekers who stayed in Pakistan. Apart from this, there were still about three million refugees who stayed in Pakistan who had not been registered. More so, there are still more immigrants in this country whose total number is not known. These immigrants are people who are citizens of such countries as Iraq, Iran, and Somalia and they dwell in the urban centers of Pakistan (Rummery, Para 4).
Net Migration
According to (“Seminar on costs and benefits of migration in Pakistan”, Para 1), several years ago, the Indus, which was a fertile region, served to attract several people. Such attributes, which are referred to in the current days as the pull factors, were an attraction point of such people as the Arabs, British, Turks, among others. In the current day, the push factors are the ones that have turned out to be overwhelming. The present net migration (rate) for the country is -3.3 for every 1000 populace. This figure implies that, currently, there are more people (Pakistanis) who are moving from this country to other places as compared to those people who are coming in the country.
This pattern of migration comes about as a result of several reasons. Among the significant reasons is the labor factor. In the case where we have a free market, it implies people coming up with free choice making. In regard to the labor market, the economic decisions involve making an offer of services and manpower as well as buying or hiring labor. There is a meeting of the demand and supply in a free market on a balanced playing ground (“Seminar on costs and benefits of migration in Pakistan”, Para 2).
According to (“World population to reach nine billion by 2050: UN projections”, Para 7), it is projected that by the year 2050, Pakistan will have to send out a total number of one hundred and sixty one thousand migrants every year. This number will bei fifth largest in the world. The world population at this time is projected to be nine billion people.
Works Cited
- Rummery, Ariane. “UNHCR and Pakistan sign a new agreement on the stay of Afghan refugees”. UNHCR. 2009.
- “Seminar on costs and benefits of migration in Pakistan” Economic Freedom Network Asia. 2010.
- United Nations. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division, World population policies 2005, Volume 2007. 2006. ISBN: 9789211514209.
- “World population to reach nine billion by 2050: UN projections”. Pakistani Defence Forum. 2009.