Poverty is an ethical concept, not a statistical one. Inherent in the term “poverty”,
When applied to human beings, is the notion of a life situation that should not exist.
It is not only lack of roti, kapra aur makan. Amartya Sen Aptly sums up many dimensions of poverty as lack of “capability” which includes capability to overcome violence, hunger, ignorance, illness, physical hardship and injustice. Poverty often lies in the absence of opportunity. It is not just the absence of food on the table.
Reports reveal that poverty in Pakistan has risen across time as compared to international level. World Bank has forced Pak government to revisit the poverty figures for the fiscal year 2008, due to the conflicting reports about the level of poverty in the country.
Subsequently, the World Bank re-visited the poverty estimates by Centre for Poverty Reduction and Social Policy Development (CPRSPD), which found a 4 to 5 percentage points increase in poverty figures in the last quarter of fiscal year 2008. State bank of Pakistan said that 25 per cent of the population is still living under the poverty line. SBP further said that there are chances of severe food crises and subsequent social unrest in the country.
This is expected to result in higher poverty levels in the country, while the causes of food crisis are thought to be widespread regional and socio-economic inequalities prevailing in different parts of our homeland.
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