An image of a congested road in Karachi. Photo: Geo News File 

Results released for citywide population in the provisional census conducted by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics show that Karachi?s population has ballooned to 14.9 million in 2017 as compared to 9.39 million in 1998.

Thirty three percent of Sindh?s 47.9 million-strong population lives in the province?s two major cities, Karachi and Hyderabad. While the provincial capital?s population grew by fifty nine percent in nineteen years, Hyderabad?s population only grew by 0.6 million during the same time.

Pakistan's total population was recorded at 207.774 million, as per the provisional summary results of the Sixth Population and Housing Census.

Punjab ? the largest province in terms of population ? houses 110 million people. The province?s capital, Lahore, witnessed a hundred and sixteen percent growth in population, from 5.1 million in 1998 to 11.12 million in 2017.

Other cities in the province recorded minor increases in their respective populations; Faisalabad ? which housed approximately two million people in 1998 ? is now home to 3.2 million residents. Gujranwala?s population increased by 0.89 million while Multan?s population grew from 1.16 million in 1998 to 1.73 million in 2017.

The federal capital?s population grew dramatically from 0.5 million in 1998 to 1.01 million in 2017. Population of Islamabad?s twin city, Rawalpindi grew by 0.7 million in nineteen years.

Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?s thirty-million strong population, 1.9 million people reside in the provincial capital Peshawar.

Balochistan?s capital Quetta?s population grew by forty three percent from 0.56 million in 1998 to 1.001 million in 2017.