_Muhammad Abrar
Nov 15, 2022
Once famous
Indian politician Gandhi said, "Poverty is the worst form of
violence". The lines depict the ugly reality of poverty crystal. It seems
okay to read about poverty in books or see the misery prevailing over long
patches of land on the screen, but it is too harsh to experience it even for a
while. Half of the population of the world lives in extreme poverty. They have
no access to clean water, healthy diet, healthcare facilities, educational opportunities,
and job availability. They are condemned to face the harsh weather without
homes. The question is, how can we eradicate poverty from this planet earth? Is
there any solution to this problem?
To find an
answer to this question we must examine which countries have defeated poverty
successfully at the national level. Only then can we utilize the experience of
that particular nation for the people as a whole. We have two great powers in
the world: the USA and China. If we compare the poverty ratio of these
countries, according to global voices, The US poverty standard is 15 times
higher than the Chinese counterpart. On
the other hand, China has succeeded in lifting 800 million people out of the
poverty line in 40 years. Hence, it is vital to have a look at China's poverty
alleviation program.
China's
strategy to eliminate poverty was based upon two to three fundamental pillars:
firstly boosting economic growth through industrialization, development of
rural areas, and the model of "Common prosperity for all".
China is the
world's leading country in the world to establish its infrastructural ties with
the entire world through the projects like BRI (Belt Road Initiative). The mega
project includes the transformation of the economies of the developing
countries into industrialization, establishing factories, sharing the latest
technologies, and sustaining cooperation through aids and packages. According
to some estimates, the net worth of this BRI project ranges from 1 trillion to
8 trillion dollars. The project is unique in the sense that it entails not only
regional Asian countries (Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Iran), but also reaches Western countries including Turkey,
Greece, Italy, France, Germany as well as some African countries. The target
year of completion stands at 2049. Thus this project would not only change the
world order but would also mold the course of history.
The second
important factor behind the poverty alleviation program is China's
rural-centric approach. The rural areas were developed, and industries were
installed bringing job opportunities for the unemployed labor. The construction
of homes, facilities for farmers with the latest technologies, improved
drainage system, flood control, and preservation of heritage sites proved to be
an effective tool in lifting the backward areas of the countries.
The third
important strategy to enhance China's program is "Common prosperity for
all". According to it, multinational companies are urged to divide their
profits among the workers by raising their incomes and incentives.
Strengthening the less privileged segment of society to foster economic
equality in society proved a successful experiment to eliminate the ratio of
poverty in the country.
Since the dawn
of the bipolar world, western countries have not met any success to sustain
economic equality and alleviating poverty with such a great magnitude as that
of China. Meanwhile, in the contemporary multipolar world, China's growth has
risen as a ray of hope in underdeveloped countries as well. Today, there is a
crucial need to adopt the regional model of development in tackling Pakistan's
economic challenges instead of relying on miles away Capitalist models.
0 Comments