Population is a very significant aspect of the national power of a state. Countries with higher rate of population can turn it into their strength or weakness depending on how they tackle it. You can be a country of cheap labour or highly skilled manpower depending on how you educate your people. The military force, another vital constituent of a state's power is built upon the foundation of population. A country should know how to keep its population engaged in gainful work. Failing to engage the population gainfully leads to unemployment, which can have alarming effects. Unemployment can bring a higher rate of suicides in its wake. Unemployment fosters corruption and crime. Worst of all, it gives birth to extremist groups and trends. -SAMAN ATHAR, Karachi, via e-mail, March 25.