The Poverty in Pakistan

The Poverty in Pakistan- Essay outline

1. Introduction
2. Poverty in Pakistan
3. Causes of poverty
4. Conclusion

What is Poverty?

The state of being poor is called poverty. If the persons of a fixed income group cannot purchase basic needs, i.e. food, clothing, housing, education and basic health facilities, they are considered to fall below the poverty line.

Every few days, Pakistan makes the worst kind of headlines: bombings in markets and mosques, combats with the Taliban. But, much less widely reported, the daily lives of millions of Pakistanis are consumed by another problem. They have to cope with desperate poverty. The struggle for some is more than they can bear.

Growing Poverty in Pakistan

Poverty in Pakistan is a growing concern. Although the middle-class has grown in Pakistan to 40 million, nearly 24% of the total population lives below the poverty line. According to the Human Development Index (HDI), 60.3% of Pakistan’s population lives on under $2 a day.

Disparity in Wealth Distribution

Wealth distribution in Pakistan is highly uneven. Poverty in Pakistan has historically been higher in rural areas and lower in the cities. Out of the total 40 million living below the poverty line, 30 million live in rural areas.

It’s shameful that we are a nuclear state, and we can’t feed our own people. Almost half of the population here gets just one meal a day. according to the United Nations.

In recent years, Pakistan has received billions in the form of aid, loans, and debt rescheduling. The hungry might be forgiven for asking where all the money went.

Growing Population is the Main Cause of Poverty

Population pressure, lack of investment, absence of solid industrial estates, sudden fluctuation in demand and supply, shortage of capital, market imperfection, low literacy rate, inflationary pressure, low foreign investment, and bad educational system are some of the major causes of poverty in Pakistan.

The recent trends in global and regional poverty clearly suggest one thing and that is, that rapid economic growth over a prolonged period is essential for poverty reduction.

Economic Growth and Employment

Economic growth creates employment opportunities, increases the income of the people, and therefore, reduces poverty. Many developing countries have succeeded in boosting growth for a short period. But only those that have achieved higher economic growth over a long period have seen a lasting reduction in poverty.

East Asia and China are classic examples of a lasting reduction in poverty. One thing is also clear from the evidence of East Asia and China that growth does not come automatically. It requires policies that will promote growth.

Role of Government

Government should target a high level of investment in human capital. Employment opportunities should be created within the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to accelerate the production of basic needs so that consumer goods should have been in the reach of the low-income groups.