Three Pak men father 96 children
God will provide, the men say unconcerned by economic problems
Bannu, June 10: Three men who have fathered nearly 100 children among them are doing their bit for Pakistan’s skyrocketing population, which is being counted for the first time in 19 years.
But in a country where experts warn the surging populace is gouging into hard-won economic gains and social services, the three patriarchs are unconcerned. Allah, they say, will provide.
Pakistan has the highest birth rate in South Asia at around three children per woman, according to the World Bank and government figures, and the census is expected to show that growth remains high.
“God has created the entire universe and all human beings, so why should I stop the natural process of a baby’s birth?” asks Gulzar Khan, a father of 36, citing one of the strongest influences in the region: the belief that Islam prevents family planning.
Khan’s brother, Mastan Khan Wazir — one of his 15 siblings — also has three wives. So far, Wazir has only fathered 22 children. “God has promised that he will provide food and resources but people have weak faith,” he says.
In the southwestern city of Quetta in Balochistan province, Jan Mohammed — the father of 38 children — agrees. “The more Muslims grow, the more their enemies will fear them... Muslims should go for more and more children,” he said.
The last census, held in 1998, showed Pakistan had a population of up to 135 million. Estimates suggest the new census will put the figure closer to 200 million.
But observers have warned that the population boom is negating any progress, using up valuable resources in a young country where jobs are scarce and nearly 60 million people live below the poverty line. — AFP