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W
H A T I S P O V E R T Y ?
An absolute definition of poverty cannot be stated, as
poverty is both relative and subjective. Despite these visible constraints
experts have attempted to suggest some reliable parameters both economic and
social, which would help defining poverty.
Poverty may be defined as the proportion of population
whose income falls below a specified poverty-line. The poverty- line is an
indicator used to estimate poverty in a society. It is the consumption and
utilization of commodities and services considered essential to fulfill basic
needs of a common man such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health,
transportation, etc. Based on the basic needs estimate, 42 million or 30% of
the total Pakistani population is living below the poverty- line.
The vast majority of poor are classified as under employed,
having long working hours, often back-breaking jobs that do not come close to
covering their most basic needs. A startling disproportionate number of these
people are women. Most of them have no sources of clean drinking water or access
to sanitation and go to bed without food. They are particularly vulnerable to
natural disasters such as drought, floods and storms, having little or no margin
for survival when their housing, possessions and means of production are
destroyed.
Poverty is when the residents of katchi abadis are evicted
from their land without recompense, or factory workers treated as slaves, young
children denied their childhood.
C
A U S E S O F P O V E R T Y
Kind of circumstances that are beyond
control of the government and local people, which can be natural
and national disasters, misfortunes, etc.
Lack
of education, opportunities, resources and adequate technology that may
cause low standard of living.
Any
kind of exploitation, domination and oppression from the top and alienation
of the masses from the elites at the bottom.
Inadequate
structures and values leading to social, political and economic
inequalities.
P
O V E R T Y P R O F I L E
The
annual population growth rate is to the extent of 2.61%. 41% of the total
population of Pakistan is under 15 years of age. This massive group is about
to enter into the reproductive race, virtually guarantying unacceptable
growth rates to continue well into the future.
38%
of the under 5 years population is malnourished.
40%
of the population is deprived of basic services such as access over safe
drinking water, health and sanitation.
Half
of the 30% people below the poverty line in 1998-99 did not even have two
square meals a day. It is usual to define poverty in terms of intake of
calories. 21% of the population has less than the minimum intake of 2250
calories per adult per day.
63%
of the population cannot read or write. 76% of the female adult population
is illiterate. 55% children drop out before grade 5.
Recent
studies on the intensity of poverty by region indicate that the percentage
of households unable to reach even 75% of the minimum calorific norms are
quite substantial in every province, with the figure for rural areas being
19% in Balochistan, 10% in Punjab, 12% in NWFP and 6% in Sindh. The
intensity of urban poverty is highest in Punjab (13%) and lowest in Sindh
(4%).
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