#Pakistan - Poverty; mother of all ills and evils

By: Ajmal Meer Mehdi

Today, world is global village, technology has manipulated the highest advancement and modernization in the name of science and computer. All the people of world are enjoying and entertaining the fruits of technology and its innovations. Still millions are looking for to entertaining the life and charms of this mortal world. One billion people in the world are living on less than one dollar a day. 2.7 billion People in the world are living on less than two dollars a day, (World Bank, 2014). Eleven million children die every year. 114 million children do not able to achieve basic education and 584 million women are illiterate. In every year, Six million children die due to malnutrition. 

Every day 800 million people stay hungry in which 300 are children. 2.6 billion People of the world’s population (40 percent) are depriving from basic sanitation and one billion people are suffering to unsafe drinking water (UN Millennium Project, 2002). The areas of inequality such as unequal status of women and minority groups of low developed countriesrepresent this aspect of poverty. As a result, rich people continue to prosper while poor people lag behind. In the global scenario, in the last 30 years economic growth has occurred but along with the portion of poor people also increased. In 1960 the income of 20% of the richest countries has 30 times more than that of 20% of the poorest countries. It was 60 times greater in 1990. Only 20% of the world income is receiving by world poorest countries that are residing in poorest countries. 

Thus in the last three decades the difference between the rich and poor has increased. Income distribution between rich and poor is unequal. Rich people 1000 million are 150 times are richer than the poor people of 1000 million. The access of these poor people is limited. They have only 0.2% access loans made by commercial banks, 1.3% access to international investment, 1% access to international trade and 1.7% access to international income. (World Bank report, 2014). Pakistan is wheel of social problems faced by common people in every aspect of their lives. Poverty in Pakistan is day by day growing because of social problems which are tolerated by citizens of country like illiteracy, over population, crime, economic disorder, environmental degradation etc.

Under developed countries face this problem as obstacle in development and progress. Poverty creates shocking consequences which enhances the other problems along with worse outcomes. Poverty is challenging issue for any state or country as it possesses the roots for other issues which are also dangerous problems for country. The poverty should be addressed national as well as regional level by taking serious measures.

Poverty is rapidly increasing problem of our society which has created the economic disorder and environmental degradation in country. Poverty is hazardous be it in any form relative, absolute, objective and subjective
poverty. Poor people are suffering from the hundreds of other social problem in their daily lives. 

Poverty is the persistent challenge facing Pakistan since its inception. The poverty issue of Pakistan is increasing more in rural areas where almost 70% of the population is living. Their livelihoods depend on rural economy. They have lack of basic necessities such as primary health care, education, safe drinking water and deteriorating social services. The income gap between haves and have-nots is increasing. Some provinces have more inequality, gender bias and lack of geographic and spatial capital. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is a common measure of poverty. Poverty lines are drawn on the basis of goods that satisfy a person for his basic needs. The units of these goods are converted into PPP. Furthermore, a head count ratio is calculated to represent the percentage of poor people in the total population. Poor people have no sufficient economic opportunities, deprived from representation and no access of information due to corruption of their countries. Corruption decrease the trust of poor people for public officials, increase cost of public services, hinder economic growth, increase inequality, violation of human rights and supersedes the rule of law. Corruption hurts the social, economic and political future of a country. 

In the country where bribery, favoritism, nepotism and manipulations are prevailed then the fabric of developed society are weaken. Corruption is looming almost all segment of Pakistan and poor people are losing their money and confidence due to dreadful practice of corruption. Development is being impeded where lack of accountability, corruption, human rights violation, defiance of rule of law and military influence. Poor governance is a key cause of poverty in Pakistan. Political instability and corruption which are the result of bad governance have declined business confidence, decrease economic growth and declining public expenditure on basic needs. As a result, investment and development was decreased while poverty is increasing. 

The political structures where influential individuals have the approach in the political instaurations using political power to grant privileges and appoint people to position those are not suitable according to their capabilities and merit, making the country damage. Extended patrilineal families or lineages, personal recommendation or influence and traditional patron client relations are harming the governance. The world is becoming advance and we still suffered in the basic problems, depending on aid and playing in the hands of coups. The increase diseases are not only reducing efficiency and power, but they also have the effect of reducing life expectancy. The reduced life expectancy means less number of working force, less incomes and less production. Moreover, majority of women in Pakistan command a very miserable and poor health standard.