950818

IBRD recommends

emphais on removal

of gender inequalities

IKRAMUL HAQ

ISLAMABAD: New economic research of the World Bank suggests greater investment on women and removal of gender inequalities. This is seen as good economics for long term development of a country.

This was the crux of a briefing on a report "Towards Gender Equality", here on Friday by its author Ishrat Hussain, the Bank's Director, Poverty and Social Policy Department, currently on a visit to Pakistan.

The 68-page report written in a global perspective is the result of recent researches in the bank.

Ishrat Hussain presented a dismal array of social indicators for Pakistan in regard to female illiteracy, high fertility and infant mortality and very low participation in labour force. While presenting these, he pleaded that these issues should be of more concern in the press than discussion on "conditionalities," for the former would accelerate economic growth on fast track in the long run.

While female illiteracy in Indonesia was 32 percent, Malaysia 30 percent, the Philippines 11 percent, Thailand 10 percent, it was 78 percent in Pakistan.

The picture in regard to female fertility is as bleak. In Indonesia it is three percent, Malaysia 3.7 percent, the Philippines 3.7 percent, Thailand 2.3 percent and Pakistan 6.1 percent. Again infant mortality rate is the highest. For Indonesia it is 56 out of 1,000 births, Malaysia 15, the Philippines 36, Thailand 27 and Pakistan 88.

The progress achieved by these countries was not because of macroeconomic development but investment in social sectors for a sustained period since 70s.

He added that indicators for rural areas in Pakistan are much worse. In Bangladesh female enrolment in primary schools is 81 out of 100, but in Pakistan it is only 52.

The share of female labour also gives a negative signal. In LDCs the average female participation rate is 36 percent but in Pakistan it is only 13 percent.

The main conclusion of the report is that under investment in women is deleterious to a country's development. He warned the development will be held back unless this disparity is removed.

Another important message of the World Bank official was that community participation in development activity is a must. No government in the world howsoever rich can rid the myriad problems of underdevelopment alone without full and active participation of the community.

In this connection, Ishrat Hussain stated that the Social Action Programme in Pakistan was built around strong participation of the community in social development.

During discussion with newsmen Ishrat said that SAP also proposed to bring about uniformity in the educational system.

When some journalists mentioned that two systems of education prevailed in the country, one for the elite and the other for the laity, he categorically stated that this dual structure cannot last. No nation can prosper in the face of inequalities, he added.

He also urged the journalists to raise public awareness of benefits of community participation in improving the social conditions. During the discussion, he strongly defended the proposed privatization of the irrigation channels, removal of subsidies in agriculture and even high tariffs for power, for the simple reason that this would promote efficiency and minimise wastages.

He was also supportive of the disclosure of personal expenditure in the new income tax forms like educational expenses on children. If a trader or a government servant is able to pay tens of thousands of rupees on education of children in Aitcheson College or abroad, he must be earning much more than what is visible, he surprised.

Continuing he said that large scale untaxed economy in the country was also fuelling inflation.

The recipe of the study is simple. Educated women will have better care of children, will be more productive member of the labour force and will have lower fertility rate. With slow down in population growth, the fruits of development will be more widespread.

Ishrat stated that the report has proposed four areas of government intervention in order to remove gender disaprities.

First, women should have equal rights with men to own land and property.

Second, credits should also go to women for availing economic opportunities.

Third, labour laws should be modified to end gender discrimination.

Fourth, government should undertake measures to reform the economy. Bad economics breeds inflation and hurts the poor most, specially the women. The rich can insulate themselves against recession or inflation but the poor are too vulnerable, specially the women.

The report will be discussed at the forthcoming women summit in Beijing.