KARACHI, Sept 23: The Sindh government needs an immediate investment of Rs50 billion over the next three years period to reduce the intensity of prevailing extreme poverty in the province.
“This amount will be over and above the provincial and federal public sector development allocations”, an official position paper of government planners reveal.
If all things stay well the Sindh government may be able to make an investment of about Rs45bn to Rs50bn in development during the next three years and the federal government would be in a position to provide about Rs30bn.
It means that the planners in Sindh are looking for a total investment of Rs130bn in the next three years on development efforts. “It looks to be an extremely difficult if not an impossible task”, a bureaucrat remarked but refused to elaborate the issue further.
The bulk of Rs50bn being demanded — Rs26bn — is for the physical planning and housing. The development of residential plots, construction of housing and the construction activity itself is expected to meet the basic requirements of the poverty stricken people and as well as generate a lot of employment directly and indirectly.
Another amount of Rs5bn is being asked for education particularly to promote enrolment of girl students and an equal amount is being sought to develop road network in interior of the province. Quite a big part of the province and particularly agricultural areas are away from the markets.
The roads are expected to open up those backward areas and bring fields closer to the markets.
The planners have also proposed an investment of Rs4bn in agriculture. The focus is on livestock and fisheries which have relatively less gestation period and give quick returns. There is also a proposal to develop value-added farm products that include vegetables. With proper marketing, grading and preservation, the vegetables have a ready market at home and abroad.
Equally important is the health-care in the interior of Sindh province. The planners have proposed investment of Rs4bn. The idea is to develop health-care facilities. What would cause problems is, however, the availability of lady health workers. The social conditions are such that no lady doctor is ready to take posting in any hospitals and health units located in interior of the province even at the tehsil level.
There is a demand of Rs800 million for forest and wildlife development, Rs600m for mining, Rs400m for manpower and employment and Rs300m for environment.
POWER TARIFF: The document bluntly blames “increased power tariff” for being the main reason for the spread of poverty in Sindh as it has “undermined the industrial growth thus the job opportunities, and the loss of confidence of the private sector and investors on government policies”.
Other factors for the spread of poverty are the less availability of funds for social sector and impediments in the implementation of structural reforms.
The Sindh planners have questioned federal government’s definition of poverty based on requirement of 2,350 calories. Those unfortunate who do not consume 2,350 calories a day are defined as poor according to a notification issued on April 8 last.
Sindh planners contend that calorie-based poverty concept does not fully capture the magnitude of poverty.
There are other basic things of life which are clothing, shelter, education and health. Deprivation of these things also constitute poverty. It has fixed a basket of minimum requirements which are food, clothing, transport, utilities, health and education.
There are a few reports which put poverty incidence in Sindh at 53 per cent. Aga Khan Foundation survey found that women, children and minorities are the worst victims of poverty in Sindh.