Sindh is said to be a resourceful province, yet the majority of its population — especially in the rural areas — lives in abject poverty and illiteracy. This is because the focus of the government's spending is not directed towards the poor masses.

Despite the government's seemingly sincere efforts towards poverty alleviation, most of the development programmes related to poverty alleviation are not delivering and have no trickle-down effects, as these programmes are poorly planned and undertaken in haste.

The government presents a rosy picture to the people but massive pockets of poverty, unemployed youth, illiterate millions, rampant corruption, gender inequality, volatile law and order, skyrocketing prices of commodities, lack of access to basic amenities and socio-economic stratification are ubiquitous. Thus people in the province are much poorer than projected by the government.

The government's focus on establishment of new projects under public sector programmes with their offices in posh localities, equipped with modern facilities, is not likely to yield any positive result and improve the lot of poverty stricken people. Rather, these projects may end up as a burden on the provincial exchequer and would leave the province more indebted to international financial institutions.

Therefore, the need of the hour is to launch development schemes to uplift the socio-economic status of the public through regular government institutions by enhancing their efficiency through an effective system of checks and balance and putting the right persons in the right places.

The government should concentrate upon opening technical and educational institutions and research centres to train future experts. Industrial and agricultural sectors must be focused on and made vibrant to expand the industrial and agriculture-related production base that can increase productivity and provide opportunities of employment.

Women, need to be emancipated in order to enable them to participate in all fields of life; for this protective but effective laws for securing the rights of women should be introduced. Livelihood programmes at the mass scale, especially for women, is the need of the time. Programmes for achieving universal literacy must be given top priority along with other poverty alleviation programmes.

Those in the driving seat should reduce lavish spending. Honesty and selflessness should be inculcated among the rank and file so that everyone can work with a sense of commitment and dedication. Impoverishment cannot be trimmed down by changing statistics; therefore, the regime in power should frame sound strategies to liberate the masses of the province from the poverty trap that is perpetually squeezing them.

ABDUL SAMAD CHANNA
Karachi