Land Reforms and Debt Cancellation: A post flood discussion

You are invited to a discussion and teach in session on the land situation post the catastrophic 2010 floods. The discussion will also focus on Pakistan's external and internal debt, Governments spending on development and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

The recent floods have exposed how the poor rural populations of Pakistan are highly vulnerable to natural catastrophes. Having lost their homes, belongings, animals and crops, and some of them landless and in debt, people in many parts in Sindh are suffering severely because of the floods and an unjust system.  At this time, debt cancellation and land reforms are essential for the rural population of Pakistan to emerge from a life of poverty and despair.  

Some of the questions, we had while planning this event were:

-- Why is it that after spending so much on rural development over 60 years, poverty and social indicators remain the same?

-- Why has social development so failed that a child from Sajawal has to travel to Thatta to attend school after 5^th class?

-- Why are midwives the sole providers of maternity care in most rural areas of Sindh?

-- Why is there lack of access to adequate drinking water?

-- We have a debt of $54 billion, why then do we see no improvement in the social indicators -- in health, education, and infrastructure?

-- How can one man own 100,000 acres and others be condemned to landlessness, poverty and debt?

We will have a facilitated discussion with the participants after presentations on debt cancellation and land reforms. 

Organized by The Sindh Labour Relief Committee.

Date: Friday 29th October 2010

Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
Location: The Second Floor (t2f), Karachi