ISLAMABAD: Inequitable inherent distribution of resources and power, rapidly growing population, widespread poverty and malnutrition, debt management crisis are a few causes of growing risks to socio-economic development in the country.

This was stated by Dr Sohail Jehangir Malik, a leading economist and policy analyst, while delivering a special lecture on `The Current State of the Economy: Pakistan`s desperate need for rapid pro-poor growth` at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

Dr Sohail said the government had to address rampant energy crisis, looming water crisis and natural and manmade disasters such as floods, earthquake and drought, etc.

`If we will not give top priority to these areas, we may not expect poverty reduction and pro-poor growth which are vital to economic development in the country,` Dr Malik said.

He said the government should increase development budget to GDP instead of cutting it down.

The government should improve revenue mobilisation by controlling corruption and inefficiencies in the tax system as revenue shortfall occur due to narrow tax base amid exemptions, preferential treatment of certain sectors at the cost of other sectors which are heavily taxed, he said.

Dr Sohail called for increase in growth rate of agriculture and related sectors such as cotton ginning, livestock, fishing and various crops saying that it will ensure food security and reduce incidence of poverty and disparities in rural income size.

He said the government should realise the fact that the society that did not care for its poor was exploitative, incohesive, dysfunctional and unjust and did not cater to the human dignity and decency. By including the poor in growth paradigm could be the only way to ensure efficiency, equity and employment generation in the system, he added.

He said almost 62.4pc farmers were living in a poor situation, and 66pc living in less than three acres area, 70pc farms less than five hectares and 50pc farms 20 hectares and above.

To achieve the objective of making Pakistan a country where reducing poverty stands as a strong pillar of socioeconomic development, the system needs to provide selfrespect, social awareness and gainful livelihoods to the people especially the youth given the bulge in the demographic pyramid by development their skills and know how.

He also suggested to start young entrepreneurs programmes to generate employment opportunities for youth.

Dr Abid Suleri, Executive Director SDPI moderated the event.