Poverty is embedded in power and distribution systems of a country.
To truly resolve the poverty issue, the opportunity space of the poor needs to be reviewed and created.
In Pakistan the poor are shut out of all aspects of the economy. Without deep reform they cannot be put on an equal footing with the rich.
Policy for poverty should seek not only to address short term problems of poverty, it should also conduct the deeper reform to open out opportunities for the poor.
Akmal Husain a leading Pakistani economist discusses the poverty issue in depth.