KARACHI: Corruption main cause of poverty, say speakers
KARACHI, July 3: Speakers at a two-day seminar on Poverty- Alleviation emphasized that effect of economic growth could only be realized if the poor people are empowered and corruption is brought to an end.
The seminar was organized by Civil Society Forum at the Governor’s House on Wednesday. In all, 12 speakers readout papers discussing various aspects of the issue on first day of the seminar, inaugurated by Prof. Anita Ghulam Ali, provincial minister for education. As many as 27 scholars from 23 universities from all over the country have been invited to address the issue.
Anita Ghulam Ali said that poverty has many faces and extensive dimensions. It is a scourge on individuals and families.
Referring to illiteracy, poor health, multiplying populations, drug addiction, violence, frustration and lowering of self-esteem and such other aspects highlighted by the scholars, Prof. Anita said the idea of involving universities on major issue of policy and governance is forward looking strategy of the government. The new ideas, however, radical should replace the already tried out solutions, she observed.
The other speakers suggested that policies be designed to strengthen poor peoples ability to resist against corruption which will in turn reduce income inequality and alleviate poverty. Thus providing education and quality health care may increase the awareness of poor people for their rights.
They were of the view that corruption also affect composition of government expenditure. In order to receive bribes with fewer chances of detection, corrupt officials alter spending allocations, they contended and cited example that share of government expenditure on education in total spending is generally low in corrupt societies because expenditure on education is susceptible to corruption.
Moreover, expenditure on construction of hospital buildings and on medical equipment is more prone to corruption than the payment made to doctors and nurses, the added.
Some speakers observed that poverty not only harms the well-being of the people but also creates unrest which eventually leads to an economic chaos. To alleviate poverty, formulation of prudent policies is must, they stressed.
The speakers opined that mass movement of people from rural to urban areas causing demographic change has made poverty multi-faceted. They revealed that some five million people in Karachi alone live in slums with a total absence of social network and basic amenities.
Those who spoke at seminar include Dr. Khalida Ghous of Karachi University, Mumtaz Memon of Mehran Engineering University, Jamshoro, Siraj Jamal Siddiqui of Sindh University, Dr. Shahzad Leghari of Liaquat Medical University Jamshoro, Dr. Salim Rahpoto and Prof. Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah of Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Dr. Anwar Ahmed Junejo of Quaid-i-Awam University Nawabshah, Dr. Naved Ahmed IBM, Miss Sidra Iqbal DG, Princeton Institute, Dr. Arif Zubair of Sir Syed University, Shaheen Ali Khan of Greenwich University Karachi and Miss Seema Tunio of Isra University Hyderabad.
Earlier, Brig. A.S. Nasir, chairman Governor’s Inspection Team and convener of the seminar shed light on the aims and objects of the seminar.—PPI
