UNLIMITED POPULATION GROWTH: QATAR
A development that does not reflect on improving the consumer quality of
life is not a development. The increase in Qatar population has reached
unparalleled levels where citizens have become minorities or 14% of the
population in their own land.
Rapid
population growth has interfered with almost every aspect of life in the
country and is detrimental to sustainable development. The population increase
is a huge challenge to handle. Qatar is likely to face overcrowding that will
place a huge burden on its resources.
Some of the cultural, social, economic and
political issues effects of the population explosion are noted daily:
1. Citizens began learning Hindu because of the increased Indian expats.
Before, it was vice versa.
2. TATA buses, boxes with no air
conditions, are spreading black smoke into the atmosphere like mobile diesel
factories.
3. Citizens book costly night medical appointments to avoid the morning crowd's
in public hospitals.
4. Farmers production has decreased because
farm expat workers are selling the crops to their friends.
5. The more the increase in population the more spending citizens make
to buy their comfort.
6. In the past few years a piece of land of 10,000 ft2 costs
$30,000.Today it is 25 folds whilst the monthly salaries have increased by only
60%.
7. Before, the citizen pays back the land
installments within 24 months. Today he needs to pay the same monthly installment
in 600 months.
8. We used to buy a whole lamb for $120. Today it is more than $ 250.
9. We used to pay for a full supermarket
trolley $135. Today we pay $270.
10. I used to reach the airport from home within five minutes. Today I
take thirty minutes. How would this affect the car, fuel cost, environment and
time?
11. Today we hear about new illnesses and
diseases and an increase level of cancer patients.
12. Today's doctors are impatient and cannot accurately diagnose why
people suffer.
13. We travel first or business class to
avoid the acrid sweat smell of expat workers who do not seem to take shower.
14. Shopping centers have divided into centers for the affluent or for
the poor. Culturally, we avoid centers for the poor but get nailed down with
high price tags.
15. Our kids are bragging who wears the most
expensive brand. Who doesn't does not belong to them.
16. The cheap labor is abundant in this country that most citizen rely
on to stage, for example, of carrying students handbags to and from school, a disgusting
image!
17. Nervous driving, intolerance with other
drivers and violation of traffic rules are normal scenes in any street at any
time.
18. Expatriate workers transfer their salaries every month to their
countries which are a big loss to our internal economy.
We noted above that the higher the consumption, the lower the savings.
In future, the consumer will have no capital to improve quality of living. To
solve the population problem, Qatar needs an effective utility and service institutions,
increase citizens pay and provide an environment that will enhance the quality
of life of all citizens.
This
uncontrolled development mandates a comprehensive urban development plan that
adopts a sustainability policy with regard to urban expansion and population
distribution.
One possible solution is to dedicate significant portions
of Qatar's annual budget to increasing the production of water, electricity,
and other infrastructure and utilities. The private sector will spontaneously
adjust the supply of housing, food and other services.
Ref:
cds.edu
