Bridging Resource Gaps in Rural Pakistan

Pakistan has almost 63% of its people residing in the rural areas making this population the backbone of the economy. These demographics face serious barriers in accessing diverse resources and in claiming economic and sustainable benefits. However, while the urban centers continue to develop without failure, the rural areas continue to provide systemic inequities; they also suffer from inadequate access to education, health services, clean water, and income opportunities. Bridging these gaps is required in the establishment of inclusive growth and in the improvement of the human rights of rural communities.

The State of Rural Pakistan: A Snapshot

It is worth nothing that agriculture provides the contribution of 19.5% as contribution to GDP as well as employing 38.5% of the workforce while rural areas remain united. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics indicates that rural poverty is 39% as opposed to the 18% of the urban population. The differences mostly spring from the lack of infrastructure, inadequate investment in public services, and systemic neglect. Women, who contribute significantly to the rural workforce now face even greater challenges due to the cultural expectations that limit their access to education and healthcare.

Key Challenges to Equitable Access

1. Education Deficit

It is estimated that there are more than 22.8 million children between the ages of 5 and 16 who do not attend school in Pakistan, a large proportion of whom are from rural areas. For instance, in rural Sindh and rural Balochistan, female literacy hovers around 22 percent as compared with a national average of 62 percent. Education has become impossible for many because most schools lack proper facilities, trained teachers, and a safe environment.

2. Inequities in Health Care

Basic health care in rural areas is poor, and very often, the absence of basic facilities compels people to travel long distances for treatment. The perhaps most shocking example could be the maternal mortality rate that stands at an astonishing 186 deaths per 100,000 live births in rural Pakistan, which unfortunately goes much higher when compared to urban areas.

3.Scarcity of Water and Poor Sanitation

Approximately 79 percent of the rural population in Pakistan is not accessed by safe drinking water; and sanitation facilities are either none or extremely insufficient. Diarrheal infections and hepatitis are common waterborne diseases afflicting children in such villages in southern Punjab, keeping them entrapped in cycles of abject poverty and ill health.

4. Property and Land Rights

Many rural residents of Pakistan, particularly women, face legal and societal hurdles in owning or inheriting land. Deprived of property rights, these women cannot claim a good share of economic empowerment and also contribute their share toward gender inequality. For example, in rural Sindh, only 2% of women own agricultural land.

5. Economic Marginalization

These are the small farmers and daily wage laborers who become subject to monopolistic practices, lack of financial access, and poor financial literacy and infrastructure, which keep them away from obtaining credit and market access. The floods of 2022 made this vulnerability starkly visible- displacing millions and destroying livelihoods without the benefit of sufficient state support.

Pathways to Resilient Rural Economies

1. Educate to Empower

It is imperative that the government as well as the private sectors prioritize upgrading and building rural schools with modern amenities and qualified teachers. For example, the initiative has tied the BISP with school attendance of the rural families. That is another initiative that can go a long way in making a difference.

2. Reinforcing Healthcare Infrastructure

Deployment of mobile health units and investments in telemedicine platforms can resolve healthcare issues of people in rural areas. For instance, the telemedicine initiative Sehat Kahani connects qualified doctors through digital platform avenues to rural women, thus reducing maternal and child mortality.

3. Access to Clean Water

Community-based water management projects were effectively implemented by non-profit entities, such as the Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP). Expansion of such activities, in addition to the many water filtration initiatives being organized by the government, will go a long way toward improving health conditions.

4. Improvement of Lands' Rights and Financial Inclusion.

The continuous efforts towards simplifying land registration and providing legal aid to the marginalized groups has empowered rural villagers, especially women. Furthermore, through micro finance institutions such as Kashf Foundation, financial inclusion could widen to include small loans offered to aspiring rural entrepreneurs.

5. Infrastructure and Technology Investment

Farm to market roads, renewable energy, and digital access open rural potential. For example, the Punjab government's e-credit scheme to extend micro-loan opportunities to smallholder farmers by mobile app is one such step in the right direction.

Case Studies of Success

1. Role of NGOs in Women Empowerment

The Rural Support Program Network (RSPN) has empowered thousands of rural women by formation of community organizations, providing vocational training, and facilitating microloans. For example, in Chitral, RSPN's interventions turned women's livelihood successful by enabling them to start small businesses, thereby doubling household incomes.

2. Community-Driven Development in Tharparkar

Community led solar water projects bring changes in dry lands in Tharparkar. As a result of the projects by the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), food becomes more secure, while the rate of migration is reduced.

Holistic Approach for Rights and Resources

It comes to - human rights, sustaining livelihoods, and including more in economic growth. The current needs won't be addressed, rather these would help empower rural populations to be part of the decision-making processes in the future. Take, for example, how the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government Billion Tree Tsunami initiative creates hundreds of thousands of rural jobs and addresses climate change issues. This is just one of those examples where inclusive policies have shown multiple dividends. Collaborations between civil society organizations, international donors, and the government is crucial for addressing rural disparities. Initiatives like the World Bank-funded Sindh Resilience Project have improved irrigation systems and disaster resilience in flood-prone areas, benefiting rural farmers directly.

Conclusion

Addressing the resource and rights gap in rural Pakistan is not merely a moral imperative; it is also a strategic necessity for the country. Systematically bridging the inequalities and empowering rural communities with education and health, land rights, and sustainable development will pave the way for resilient rural economies that will increase human dignity and support inclusive growth in Pakistan. This vision must be realized with collective effort, with policymakers, civil society, and citizens coming together to build such a future without leaving anyone behind.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

Tamsal Murtza is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Plant Pathology & Mubashra Saman is Lecturer at the Institute of Business Management Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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