Poverty and privilege

THE stark incongruity of Pakistan’s elite-captured society was highlighted by two contrasting reports last week. While the planning ministry’s Household Integrated Economic Survey revealed that poverty had surged to a record high, separate news reports disclosed that the Punjab government has acquired a multimillion-dollar luxury jet, seemingly for VVIP travel. The paradox could not be more revealing. In a country where 29 per cent of the population — around 70 million people — survive below ...

By none@none.com (Zahid Hussain)