Fighting Poverty in Pakistan Excellent article. Any mention of SPDC means the writing is a must-read anyway. Kudos to the SPDC team for consistently bringing excellent social development literature to the table.

Interesting how we sit up and listen when the IMF or the WB tell us we are doing poorly. The situation as some of the readers mentioned is not as simple as who to lay the blame on. The money that you desperately need for your grandiose (sometimes redundant projects, like the Kalabagh Dam) can only come from these multilaterals. Being a third world country is no fun, you have to listen to the dictates of the hand that feeds, even when you know the cons outweigh the pros. The structural adjustment facilities the social action programs...all of them added to the numbers below the poverty line not just in Pakistan but in several other nations as well. According to one study, 12 out of 15 African nations that were included in WB economic programs did more poorly in poverty statistics than non-participant nations.

But then that is only part of the story. Each country has the right to take its own actions. If we take the example of India`s fiercely independent inward-looking economic policies of a couple of decades ago we can see one reason why it is dictating the global market right now. I am not saying that is necessarily the way to go for Pakistan, but searching for indigenous solutions to our growing income inequality certainly is. The Pakistani leadership is in a position to take some bold steps right now, it has done so on many levels already so why not now abolish a meance like feudalism? If India did it years ago, so can we. The poorest of the poor is the landless peasant who sells his labor to the landowner for a non-existent fee, his future generations are mortgaged by the landowner, who is also the village moneylender. This is the worst form of economic abuse.

If combating poverty has to be a priority it has to be many-pronged approach. Literacy and employment growth are certainly two of the most important factors, but then so is improving rural economic sustainability, since that is where the bulk of our population lives. If there are improvements in rural infrastructure, there will be sustainable rural economic growth which will also help decrease rural migrants to the cities, in turn easing pressure from the limited employment and housing opportunities in the cities.

Ghazal

Why Not Adopt Hi. I was surprised to read so many comments on my article, I didn’t even know it was posted until Shehlah emailed me. I am so glad to hear that so many people agree with me. It re-enforces my belief that our generation is more compassionate than our parents’. I am sure we will bring about a positive societal change or at least raise children who will be driven to do so.

There is a lot of concern about when to tell the adopted child that he/she is adopted. I think this issue is as complicated or simple as you want it to be. I personally know two couples who have adopted daughters and the girls have always known they are adopted. It has never been hidden from them. Just like growing up our biological children know they came from “mommy’s tummy” adopted children should be told instead “they came from a special place but not from mommy’s tummy” and the details can be filled in by each family as desired. The key I think is never to keep it a secret or to be secretive. I saw this child on TV saying I am the only adopted child in my family and people ask me how does that feel? And I say its no different, I love my family!

Shehlah yes I know I am very lucky to have a husband who is with me on this issue, but the visa requirement stops us from adopting right now. InshAllah once we are back in Pakistan, its one of the first things we plan to do.

I loved Navedhaqqi’s comment. He’s hit it on the head, if you compare the life of a child in an orphanage as compared to in a proper family, there is really nothing to consider anymore.

I am also concerned about the case one of the readers mentioned: what if the adoptive parents die, what happens to the child? I have seen it happen twice and both times the way the adopted child was handled by the relatives of the deceased was tragic. One of my own cousins told me that once I adopt, I should not expect her and the rest of the family to love my adopted child the way they love my biological children. That was an outrage! The only way I see is to constantly speak out against attitudes like these. One of these days people will begin to loosen up. After all a lot of what is acceptable now used to be blasphemy once.

Again thanks for the good luck wishes everyone, I do hope we are able to realize our dream.

Ghazal