Three men, 96 kids reveal Pak’s population boom
BANNU: 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.
Observers warn the population boom is negating any progress, using up resources in a country where jobs are scarce and 60 million people live below the poverty line.
“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 also has three wives and has fathered 22 children. “God has promised that he will provide food and resources but people have weak faith,” he said.
In Quetta, Jan Mohammed — the father of 38 children — agrees, despite having previously called on the government to provide resources for his family.
Jan spoke with AFP in 2016 to voice his desire for a fourth wife as he continues his mission of having 100 children. No woman has yet agreed, he says, but he has not given up.