KARACHI, July 10: Punjab and NWFP in north are found to be better placed in economic and social terms as compared to Sindh and Balochistan where social scientists have detected high deprivation levels.

An inter-provincial analysis of deprivation levels done by the researchers of a well-known Karachi based private organization, Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC), showed that Punjab is least deprived and Balochistan the most deprived province in Pakistan.

The annual report of the SPDC on social development in Pakistan entitled ‘Growth, Inequality and Poverty’, launched formally on Tuesday, has constructed Multi Deprivation Indicators (MDIs) based on the premise that deprivation is based on multiple dimensions. The report has classified Pakistan’s 100 districts in terms of high, medium and low deprivation.

The annual report found 57 districts in the high level deprivation category, 30 districts in the medium category and 13 districts in low deprivation category.

Nine of the 13 low deprivation category districts— more than 69 per cent of relatively prosperous districts—are in Punjab and 24 out of 57 high deprivation category districts —over 42 per cent impoverished districts—are in Balochistan.

The superior position of Punjab with respect to development is amply manifested by the fact that its most deprived district Rajanpur ranks 19th in 100 districts of Pakistan. It means that 18 other districts in Sindh and Balochistan are more deprived than the most deprived district Rajanpur in Punjab.

Karachi in Sindh has been found to be the most developed district in Pakistan followed by Lahore while Musakhel in Balochistan is ranked as the most deprived district in the country. Quetta, Balochistan’s seat of capital, ranks seventh least deprived and Peshawar capital of NWFP ranks 9th least deprived district in the national deprivation ranking.

Dr Kaiser Bengali on Tuesday spoke of a disturbing impact of growing inequality on the incomes of the highest and lowest 20 per cent population in Pakistan. The SPDC survey shows the per capita income of the 20 per cent highest income group increased to Rs11,607 in 1998 from Rs9,417 in 1988. In sharp contrast the average per capita income of the 20 per cent low income group in the population dropped to Rs1,905 in 1998 from Rs1,947 in 1988.

He blamed over emphasis on stabilization of the economy by the successive governments for adversely affecting the economic growth, which in turn has led to growing income inequalities and aggravating poverty in the country.

He also blamed the economic liberalization measures taken in early nineties for creating current deficits and budgetary gaps.