“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”
– Nelson Mandela – 1918-2013
Poverty is the most heinous social evil which prevails in our society today. Pakistan is a country where many individuals experience absolute poverty, a state under which they cannot afford the basic requisites of human life; food, shelter and clothing. While state resources remain misdirected, the suffering of the poor amplifies day by day. In 2015, World Bank report titled, “World Development Indicators 2015,” found that 50 percent of Pakistan’s population was living below the poverty line. The international poverty line is two dollars a day, amounting to Rs. 200 in local currency. The report showed that 2.7 percent of Pakistan's population lives below $1.25 per day, which is categorised as extreme poverty. In 2011, it was found that 42 percent of national income was claimed by the top 20 percent in our population. Moreover, the rich of our country do not refrain from malpractices such as tax invasion, money laundering and embezzlement in the state resources. Workers in industries are kept at minimum wages and yet made to produce maximum output. Poverty has allowed foul practices like domestic violence, child labour and theft to creep into our society. What’s most unfortunate is that many remained trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty all their life as educational resources remain only available to the well to do. The solution of many of the social ills that reside in the society lies in the eradication of poverty and thus as responsible citizens we should all make effort on our part.