Wednesday, February 15, 2012

For some Pakistanis, suicide the only way to escape poverty...

Bashiran Bibi and her husband fought everyday because money was too tight. Their hungry children's screams tormented her. She began begging in Pakistan's streets. But that didn't help.

So the maid, 25, decided there was only one way to deal with crushing poverty. She jumped in front of a speeding train with her two sons and daughter, all under the age of 3.

"Bashiran told me the night before that it would be better for everyone if they all died," said her mother-in-law, Barkat.

(...)

Critics say alleviating poverty has never been a priority. In the 2011-12 budget, Pakistan's government allocated 0.04 percent of spending for social protection schemes. By comparison, just over 17.8 percent went to defence, though some experts put the figure at 26 percent. Full story...

Don't miss: 
  1. In Pakistan, the ruling elite is more equal than the struggling poor...
  2. Pakistan's hypocrisy will lead to its downfall...
  3. Pakistan may be poor but its president has assets worth $1.5 billion...
  4. Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistan's living saint...
  5. What is it that Indians have that we don't?
  6. Pakistan has no money for flood victims but approves $11-million monument to Benazir... 

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