Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Why is Pakistan's Net Migration Rate So Low?

Pakistanis move to Britain for a better life. The net migration
rate for Pakistan in 2012 was -2/1000 in the population.
(Photo from: "The Economist.")

      In Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World, explains low migration rates as "more people are leaving than arriving." (p. 16)
      In 2012, the net migration rate in Pakistan had a net loss of 2 people per every 1,000 in the population.
      There are many many reasons for Pakistan's low net migration rate.
      They are 174th in per capita GDP making them a very poor population, and do not have much of a middle class.
      Many are farmers and the lands can't hold a growing population.
      Another reason Pakistan has a low net migration is because they invest little in education and economic infrastructure and very high in corruption.
      "The majority of respondents consistantly view the police as being the most corrupt sector of Pakistani government. In the 2010 survey, 31% of 4,224 respondents reported paying bribes to the police.'" (2)
       "Bribery is also involved in billing for electrical power and regarding taxes. Wikipedia:'According to the 2002 study, 99% of 256 respondents repondents reported paying bribes to have their tax assessment lowered, and nearly 14% reported receiving fictitious tax assessments until a bribe was paid.'" (2)
        If Pakistanis insult the Koran or the Prophet Mohammed, they could be put to death which is hard for the 5% of Christians and Hindu's in the region.
       "Each year 250,000 Pakistanis come to Britain to visit, work or marry, and some 350,000 British citizens journey in the opposite direction, mainly to visit family. Links are reinforced by ingrained marriage customs: six of ten ethnic Pakistanis in Britain pick a spouse from Pakistan." (3)
       "Those busy borders [Britain and Pakistan] have been a boon in various ways. British universities rake in around £10,000 ($15,000) per person from their share of the 10,000 or so Pakistanis admitted each year on student visas, and businesses sponsor a couple of thousand Pakistani workers a year to plug gaps in the labour market. But the easy comings and goings between Britain and “the most dangerous place in the world”...Pakistan's western regions..." (3)
       I believe that Pakistanis are moving out of Pakistan because of corruption, war, persecution, more economic stability, and religious freedom...now's your chance...What do you think??? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

      Works Cited
     (1) Rowntree, et al. Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World. New Jersey: Pearson             Prentice Hall, 2011
     (2) Smitha, Frank A. "Islamic Republic of Pakistan." Macro History and World Report. Web.
          (c) 2009-2013 (http://www.fsmitha.com/world/pakistan.htm)
     (3) Bradford "Pakistan and Britain: The Immigration Superhighway." The Economist. Web. 
          16 April 2009  (http://www.economist.com/node/13497357)
         

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