2. Introduction
Since its independence, Pakistan’s politics have been shuttling between
democracy and dictatorship like a pendulum where political rhetoric and
slogan are mostly used to inspire and win public support.
Leaders of political parties used attractive slogans to inspire the public
about a particular issue.
This political immaturity led the nation towards street politics and
polarization of society.
Due to elements of intolerance in politics, leadership could not find
consensus and viable solutions.
In advanced states, parliament works to detach people from staging
demonstrations in streets and helps them to send their representatives in
the legislature forums.
3. Politics and Pakistan Focus
Pakistan’s current politics mostly focus on various key issues namely
panama leaks, electoral reforms, energy crisis, foreign invasion in
government, law and order situation in the country.
Many other issues like corruption, unemployment, education, health,
poverty, price hike and inflation etc. are also on priority agenda of
political parties at the moment.
These issues are mostly highlighted by political leaders in streets
through demonstrations and media coverage.
In developed democracies, politicians mostly use parliament as a
forum to discuss various political, security, social and economic
issues in order to reach at solutions and frame legislations.
4. Role of Politics in Pakistan
The interplay of religious fundamentalism,
sectarianism, ethnic cleavages and regional economic
disparities has made the country volatile and
unstable.
Various East Asian countries that were behind
Pakistan in the 1960s have surged far ahead in most
economic and social indicators. Pakistan has thus
been unable to realize its potential.
6. Poverty: Basic Concepts
Poverty is the state of not having enough material possessions or
income for a person's basic needs.
If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then
that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty.
Absolute poverty is the complete lack of the means necessary to
meet basic personal needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Poverty manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited
access to education and other basic services, social
discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in
decision-making.
7. Measurement for Poverty Level
Poverty is measured by comparing a person's or family's income to
a set of poverty threshold or minimum amount of income needed
to cover basic needs. People whose income falls under their
threshold are considered poor.
According to the World Bank’s Poverty Head Count Analysis, there
are different level of income for developed, developing and under-
developing countries i.e. 1.90 $ per, 3.21$ per day, 5.48 $per day.
if income per adult in Pakistan is taken as $ 1.90 per day, then 31.04
percent of the population falls below poverty line at 2022
population estimates. But if the poverty line is raised to $ 3.21$ per
day in line with international standards for middle income countries,
then 60.19 percent of the population fall below poverty line.
8. Measurement for Poverty Level
The official poverty line in Pakistan is calorie based, and
consumption based.
Absolute poverty is estimated after converting the household
consumption level to adult equivalent based on recommended
nutritional requirements of 2350 calories per person per day.
9. Top Reasons of global poverty.
1. Unemployment
2. Lack of reserves
3. Inadequate access to clean water and nutritious food
4. Conflict
5. Inequality
6. Poor education
7. Climate change
8. Lack of infrastructure
9. Limited capacity of the government
10.Political instablity
10. How can we end global poverty ?
To end global poverty, we identifying what is causing poverty in a
particular community and then determining what needs to change.
Because poverty looks different in various places and is caused by
different factors, the work to eradicate global poverty varies on the
context.
Perhaps infrastructure needs to be improved with new schools,
medical clinics, or access to clean water.
Or maybe, people need more economic resources to help boost
their income so they can better provide for themselves and their
families.
Regardless of the solution, to ensure poverty doesn’t return, the
work must be sustainable. So, the community must be involved in
each step.
11. The Political Economy of food grain prices
Food price volatility is one of the major challenges facing the
global economic system today.
This was most vividly illustrated during the global food crisis
of 2007-2009 when price spikes occurred for key staple
commodities such as wheat, rice, maize, and soybeans.
Given the variety of reactions by governments of countries
experiencing similar food price shocks, the crisis offers an
excellent natural experiment for generating knowledge on
responses to price volatility in particular and on the political
economy.
12. The Political Economy of food grain prices
International organizations and donors about which
types of policy interventions can mitigate price
volatility and whether they are feasible given a
country’s political economy context.
How they can help national policymakers better
understand the trade-offs of certain policy
interventions.
13. What determines the price of food?
Several key factors generally affect food prices in the long run. High oil prices
increase the cost of shipping;
1. Droughts and floods cause shortages of certain key products;
2. A growing appetite for more expensive food from an increasingly affluent
world population drives up the overall demand — and price — of food.
3. In the short-term, many factors affect food prices, making them volatile.
These factors include supply and demand,
4. Weather,
5. Disease outbreaks,
6. War, and natural disasters.
14. Rural development
Rural Development is the process of improving the quality of life
and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often
relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas.
Rural Development has traditionally centered on the exploitation of
land-intensive natural resources such as agriculture and forestry.
15. Dimensions of Rural Development
Rural development covers three different but interrelated
dimensions.
1. Economic dimension
2. Social dimension
3. Political dimension
16.
17. Dimensions of Rural Development
Economic dimension encompasses providing both capacity
and opportunities for the poor and low-income households in
particular to get benefit from the economic growth.
Social dimension supports social development of poor and
low- Income households, promotes gender equality and
women’s empowerment and provides social safety nets for
vulnerable groups.
Political dimension improves the opportunities for the poor
and low Income people in rural areas to effectively and
equally participate in the political processes at the village level
18. Objectives of Rural Development:
Following are the primary objectives of rural development:
1. To improve the living standards by providing food, shelter, clothing,
employment and education.
2. To Increase productivity in rural areas and reduce poverty.
3. To involve people in planning and development through their
participation in decision making and through centralization of
administration.
4. To ensure distributive Justice and equalization of opportunities in the
society.
Notas del editor
(“Pakistan ka matlab kya? La ilaha illala”) Maangta hai har insaan, roti kapra aur makaan; “‘Daal roti khaiyen gey/Bhutto ko laiyen gey’; ‘Note bhi deyen gain/vote bhi deyen gey’ ; Charoun souboun ki zanjeer, Benazir Benazir” Benazir aati hai, inqilaab laati hai” “Jaag Punjabi jaag, teri pag nou lag gya dagh; “Qadam barhao Nawaz Sharif, hum tumharay saath hain; Vote ko izzat do! “Jeevay jeevay Imran Khan” and “Qadam barhao Imran Khan”. “tabdeeli” “saaf chali, shafaaf chali, Tehreek-e-Insaf chali” "Aik Zardari sab pe bhaari” “Bilawal ki soorat main Bhutto nazar aya”