Department of Population Sciences
Introduction
Population Sciences is a multidisciplinary area which is concerned with changes in population size, distribution, and structure due to births, deaths, and migration. In recent decades, the scope of population sciences has greatly expanded to include such topics as family planning, household and family composition, labor market and labor force composition, economic development, social stratification and urbanization.
Demographic structures and trends may shape and determine society's social structure. Population dynamics influence behavior and actions of individuals and vice versa. The choices individuals make with respect to their families, work and lifestyle have consequences not only for the individuals themselves but also for society as a whole. Moreover, demographic changes can be major forces of economic and cultural change. Population variables not only affect but are affected by a multitude of development variables. Population ageing, for example, does have an enormous impact on social security expenditure and the demand for health care.
A comprehensive understanding of the demographic and socio economic structure of a nation's population is crucial for a better use of its resources and to move a nation forward on the path to development. Accurate knowledge of the size, shape and structure of a population is a pre-requisite for good planning for the country as a whole as well as for any of its constituent institutions such as health, education or industry. Therefore, the analysis of relationship between population changes and socio economic and cultural factors has always been an important and interesting area of study for academicians, social scientists and policy makers.
In a historical perspective, high rates of population growth have always been associated with lower levels of per capita income, as well as lower availability of education and health facilities per person. Other developing countries like Bangladesh, Sri- Lanka and Thailand have upgraded their per capita income by using means and methods to control their population. Pakistan at the moment has been facing a great challenge in providing even bread and other commodities to its population. In the current situation of soaring prices of food and other necessities of life around the world as well as in Pakistan, the country is faced with many serious challenges. It continuous to have a fairly high rate of annual growth (2.3%) and the population is expected to increase to a total of 229 million by 2025 and 295 by 2050, according to the Population Reference Bureau estimates. The high rate of population growth makes it particularly difficult for any government to provide an adequate livelihood for its people.
As the governments deal with a range of population issues while making policies and initiating development program, it is important that a widespread awareness about the linkages between population growth and its possible impacts on development is created within various echelons of society. In response to this need University of Gujrat has initiated a two year degree program in Population Sciences (MPS) to create a pool of young people who would gain the requisite knowledge on how to understand and interpret the various population factors that play a role in the future development of Pakistan.