Pakistan unfurls world's longest banner on MDG demands

Pakistan: The Insan foundation organized press conference at the Press Club demanding the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for which world’s longest banner signed by millions of the people from all across the Pakistan for the actualization of the millennium development goals to insure the eradication of poverty.

The seminar is held on the date of 07.07.07 which is celebrated as “World environment day” for the pollution free environment which is one of Millennium Development Goal.

The participants emphasized on the actualization of the promises made by the government with the international organizations to accomplish millennium development goals by the year 2015 among which the poverty eradication was at the top priority and (GCAP) Global Call to Action Against Poverty will conti8nue its struggle till the accomplishment of the targets.

The participants criticized the poor policies of the government with regards to the eradication of the poverty as evident from the increased taxes on the commodities like ghee whose price has increased due to the increase in tax by 22 Rs. The commodities previously available at 50 Rs is now has a market price
of 100 Rs which amounts to the 100 Percent increase in prices while on the other side salaries has observed meager increase of only 15 percent thus resulting ion the increased poverty and calls disparity which reveals the farce to the poverty eradication policy of the government.

The participants also criticized the increase in the budget allocation for defense and non-developmental projects instead of allocating for the welfare of the poor masses, striving for their survival in the extreme conditions where price hike is at its peak.

Participants demanded that in the upcoming elections political parties should define their agenda for the accomplishment of MDGs in their election campaign to insure the eradication of poverty which is the basic demand of every national. Political parties should define their priorities and mechanism in the election campaign about the eradication of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and injustice by decreasing the non-developmental expenses and military budget which is just a burden on the suppressed humanity of this region and should be taken into account to make Pakistan a welfare state.

Besides bogus claims of the government of eliminating poverty, no real steps have been taken so GCAP has started a campaign to put pressure on the government to cater the real problems of the masses and in this regard the world’s longest banner which is 4 km long is made on which millions of the people from mall walks of life and from every corner of the Pakistan has signed to register their demands for the actualization of MDGs.

The banner was displayed during the conference to bring into light the real demands of the millions of the masses for the eradication of poverty and actualization of MDGs.

Another 6 km long banner is announced to be prepared, signed by the millions of the masses portraying the demands of the masses will be displayed on 17th of October 2007 in Islamabad on the “World poverty day”.

Demands made in the press conference:

1.      Issue of poverty eradication should be dealt at top priority basis.
2.      Government should ensure the provision of the modern technical education without discrimination to every one to decrease unemployment resulting in proportional decrease in the poverty.
3.      Government should promote pollution free industries at local and national level.
4.      Government should insure the constitutional rights of the masses of respectful employment.
5.      Real steps should be taken to control price hike, keeping in view the capacity of the poor masses.
6.      Government should promote agricultural industry to ensure the provision of jobs to the masses.
7.      Government should insure safe and conducive working environment for the women by insuring their social, economic and political rights.
8.      Immediate resolution of the problems of the landless farmers.
9.      Child labor and bonded labor should be banned.
10.     Foreign loans taken on the name of the development of the masses should not be received without consent and permission of masses to insure accountability and transparency in allocation and expenditure.

IA Rehman, Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Abid Hassan Minto, President National Workers Party, Farah Malik, Program manager of Insan Foundation, Mahar Safdar Ali, MDGs campaign Coordinator and Ghaffar Malik provincial coordinator  from Sindh spoke at the occasion.

Coordinator, MDG Campaign in Pakistan
Mahar Safdar Ali
Insan Foundation Pakistan
4. B.3 Johar Town
Lahore
Phones; +92-42-5202100-5202101
Mobile ; +92-3008486562
Fax; +92-42-5202102
Email.  msafdar@insanpk.org