We have to root out this cause of extremism
KARACHI: This letter is in light of the Shikarpur tragedy. Poverty is one of the reasons behind extremism. Poor parents, who cannot afford to enroll their children in public or private schools, send them to religious institutions of their sect where, among other things, the children get free boarding and lodging. These students do not get lessons in mathematics or any science subjects in these schools. They only get the basic necessities of life, which their households are unable to provide them. We have to root out this cause of extremism. This means that we have to alleviate poverty. This could be achieved by creating more job opportunities, so that with more income, parents get their children admitted to schools, where they could be taught to be more productive for their families and society.
The Khairpur Special Economic Zone, located ideally on the main National Highway leading from Karachi to Punjab, offers possibilities for combating extremism through poverty alleviation. Scores of industries, including the ones mentioned below, could be set up in the Zone such as: 1) Marble slabs and tile manufacturing plants; 2) Inland water fish processing plants; 3) Halal meat processing plants; 4) Motorcycle assembling plants; 5) Disposable syringes manufacturing plants; 6) Fruit juice manufacturing plants; 7) Traditional furniture manufacturing plants; 8) Rose water distilleries.
For attracting investment from foreigners, roadshows promoting the economic zone may be held in important cities of the European Union, North America, the Middle East and the Far East. In order to accelerate the process of establishing industries in the Zone, the federal and provincial governments may provide the following facilities: 1) Tax holiday for 20 years; 2) Reduction in prices of plots by 50 per cent; 3) Establishing Khairpur Dry Port at Tando Masti railway station; 4) Setting up of display centres by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
These measures will create thousands of new jobs for the youth of Sindh, helping poverty alleviation and eventually eliminating extremism from society.
Muhammad Essa Jalbani
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2015.
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