Poverty in Pakistan

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Poverty is a curse. It is consistently on the rise around the globe. According to the latest report of the World Bank, global poverty ratio is on the rise and Pakistan is not an exemption. The ongoing global financial and banking crisis, especially in the USA and the EU has already pushed millions of people into deeper poverty.

According to the latest estimates of the World Bank, almost 40 percent of 107 developing countries are highly exposed to the poverty. Pakistan is ranked among the 43 countries most exposed to poverty risks. Poverty is widespread in Pakistan and is predominantly a rural phenomenon. Nearly two thirds of our population lives in rural areas. Most of them depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Many of them lack basic needs such as safe drinking water, primary health care, education and other social services.

A World Bank report titled Sparing lives, better reproductive health for poor women in South Asia has revealed that Pakistans 37.4 percent children under the age of five are malnourished. The South Asia region still has nearly 400 million poor people out of a population of 1.42 billion. Poverty is not just endemic; it is increasingly becoming concentrated with the passage of time. A high poverty ratio has decreased Pakistans spending on social sector further.

According to Pakistans Planning Commission, poverty rate has jumped from 23.9 to 37.5 percent in the last three years. The commission has estimated that in 2005 there were 35.5 million people living below the poverty line but in 2008 their number increased to over 64 million. Consequently, unemployment has also increased.

Moreover, 40 percent of the urban population lives in slum areas. Reduction in social sector spending is increasing poverty and has reduced the standard of living in the country. High inflation, price hike and shortage of commodities have also added to the problem. It is the hallmark of our macro-economy.

I would like to suggest the following steps to the government to wage a war against poverty. A massive effort for job creation and employment generation in order to reduce the high levels of poverty must be launched. Infrastructure development would be an effective tool to curb the rising ratio of poverty. Housing is another sector which needs to be promoted and encouraged through a well planned incentives package. Transportation sector should also be reactivated. Better law and order situation would be helpful in the restoration of business activities and to reduce rising poverty.

HASSAN ALI

Lahore

28 COMMENTS

  1. thanx to update us HAssan.v need loyal leadershp n honest subjects…may v get relief frm ds vicious circle

    • I would like to suggest the following steps to the government to wage a war against poverty. A massive effort for job creation and employment generation in order to reduce the high levels of poverty must be launched. Infrastructure development would be an effective tool to curb the rising ratio of poverty. Housing is another sector which needs to be promoted and encouraged through a well planned incentives package. Transportation sector should also be reactivated. Better law and order situation would be helpful in the restoration of business activities and to reduce rising poverty.

      • you are living in a dream world dude. Poverty reduction has to be a longterm plan, it starts with education. Each Pakistani should adopt a child or two or more and send them to school, in 16 years you will se a demand for change. there is no other way out in the midst of corruption.

        • well u are rite pasha!! but here is a thing. Why people are not sending their children to school?
          bcoz education is not compulsory in Pakistan its optional. it should be compulsory like in England or US

  2. Please come over this problem.our country is highly disturbed.poor can not afford even the meal for one time.plz………………………………………………………………..

    • very well said we can finish these problems if we r able to,so plz co operate pz,…………………………………………

  3. Every govt. officer should avoid curruption…. it's a big evil in Pakistan.. which is destroying poor people………………………

  4. First of all I must appreciate all those means who are working to give us information about the hollow plan of this country. Just one of those informative source is that,,, in a research, it has come to my knowledge that 70 per cent of the pakistan’s population is as poor as they could hardly find their one time meal nd 20 per cent is just known as they can only eat their two times meal nd can hardly meet their other expenses and 10 per cent is as rich if one bread castes one lack (100000) rupees, they can afford to buy it.

    From this research we can come to a conclusion that in pakistan the system is contrast because poor is day by day becoming poor and value of money is increasing in their minds but whereas rich is becoming rich day by day and value of money is decreasing infront of them.

    Now what can we expect from this government which is just giving apportunaties to rich not poor.

    A time to know government’s conspiracy.

  5. most importantly i wanna thank u for sharing your knowledge and information with us.every pakistani citizen and our govt. should avoid 4rm corruption and poverty……………….because we can't survive or do progress until we r facing these problems,

  6. About 2/3 of pakistan people are engaged with agriculture and agriculture is main source of raw materials,but we have lack of industry.if the govt improve agriculture and industrial sectors both,dhen job oppertunites will be increased and poverty will be decreased.better economic planning and appoints through merit,law and order situation are also necessery for poverty reductiom.

  7. About 2/3 of pakistan people are engaged with agriculture and agriculture is main source of raw materials,but we have lack of industry.if the govt improve agriculture and industrial sectors both,dhen job oppertunites will be increased and poverty will be decreased.better economic planning and appointments through merit,law and order situation are also necessery for poverty reductiom.

  8. Two things will helps pakistanies to reduce the poverty rate .
    1 EDUCATION
    2 TRUE LEADERSHIP
    for true leadership plz i request to all pakistanies for GOD sack don’t go on the foot prints of elders plz elect the correct people for our bright future.
    Thanks

  9. You name it we have it,but which we have not that is good leadership and unequal distribution of resources.

  10. well poverty in pakistan is of course a serious matter to be resolved……………
    but it requires great effort and unity ………….
    if all Pakistanis unite and take it as a serious matter then we can resolve this very soon…

  11. bcz we are facing hyper inflation and our economy is alxo not stable n alxo many other factorz which effect the living standard of our people so it is very tuff to calculate the exact poverty level

  12. I think the islamic mode of financing and proper distribution of zakat are the effective tool. to reduce the poverty. firstly govt. collect the zakat and honestly distributed the needy people after that interest free loans from islamic banks provide to them to improve the living standard and increase the agri. production

  13. thanks every one,you gave a lot of information about poverty of Pakistan and there causes,,,,

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