KARACHI – Civil society activists on Thursday termed foreign debt a political issue rather than an economical one that is used as a tool for domination over the poor country.
Delivering presentations at a seminar titled ‘Debt Cancellation for Rehabilitation,’ organised by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) in collaboration with Oxfam, the speakers demanded the cancellation of debts to help flood survivors. The seminar was a part of series of a debt cancellation campaign.
In his presentation, Oxfam’s Syed Abdul Khaliq said that developing countries pay back $300 billion as interest on debts every year.
He said the recent floods had caused more destructions than any such disaster in other countries and the people have lost everything.
“In Pakistan, foreign debt is received in the name of welfare and development but spent for political gains and does not benefit the common man,” Khaliq said.
PFF chairperson Mohammed Ali Shah said the government has taken debts without approval from parliament.
“Who is authorised to take the decision for getting such loans and under what conditions,” he questioned, adding ‘the irony is that all citizens have to pay back the debt.’
Now, he said, there is a need to initiate effective social movement, mobilising all sections of the society to force the government not to pay back the debts.
The PFF is part of the campaign demanding utilization of the debt money for rehabilitation of flood-affected communities in the province, he said.
“Climate debt is another thing, which is destroying our natural resources, depriving traditional communities of their basic rights of living,” Shah said, adding that several projects launched at rivers and energy generation have destroyed natural resources.
They have caused environmental degradation, polluting canals, rivers, wetlands and the sea and the communities have lost their sources of income, he added.
Shah said the recent flood was evidence of such projects as blocking the main stream of Indus River by allotment of lands to political allies, resulted in embankment breaches, which played havoc with the communities in the flood-hit areas of Sindh.
Strengthening Participatory Organisation Regional Manager Mustafa Baloch, Sindh Democratic Forum Zulfiqar Halepoto, Sindh Tarraqi Passand Party Dr Rajab Ali Memon, University of Sindh’s Dr Hakim Kanasiro, Awami Tehreek President Ayaz Latif Palijo, Sindh United Party General Secretary Dr Dodo Maheri and PFF Programmes Manager Hussain Jarwar also spoke on the occasion.
The speakers said that in the past, different countries, through civil society and community pressure, have denied foreign lenders their debt paybacks and got success.
The speakers pointed out that during 1998 to 2008 the Musharraf-led government had received $40 billion foreign loans and the figures have kept soaring.
“It is time for the people of Pakistan to take a step ahead and force the government to take decisions in the interest of the people,” they said.
They said that all successive governments have valid reasons for getting loans but it was not benefiting the poor.
The recent floods have rendered 20 million people homeless, who are dying of hunger, without any shelter in cold. These people need to be rehabilitated with safe shelter, food, schooling, health and water facilities. Hundreds of families do not have access to potable water and sanitation while political leaders are enjoying luxurious lifestyles despite the fact that several children have died in the recent cold wave.
