CORRUPTION

Corruption breeds more corruption. In Pakistan politicians and civil servants erode law and justice. This corruption has a direct and powerful effect on economic growth and education, which are cornerstones of a healthy and vibrant society.

EDUCATION

Pakistan suffers from education deficits. As a result, Madrassas have stepped into the vacuum, instilling in young boys – girls have no access to education – a fiery, religious training that substantially increases the chances of these young men becoming Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters.

JOIN POP’S “BACK TO SCHOOL” GROUP

ENVIRONMENT

Problems include: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff. There are limited natural fresh water resources and most of the population does not have access to potable water because of deforestation, soil erosion and desertification.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The government is ineffective and corrupt. Lack of education is also a huge issue in Pakistan but especially for women who are regularly married off before the age of 14. “Honor” killings continue in spite of laws forbidding them and women continue to be treated as cattle and currency. There is a growing threat of extremism and suicide bombings now take place on a regular basis.

JOIN POP’S “BREAK THE CHAIN” GROUP

POLITICAL PRISONERS

The Current Pakistani President Zardari was once a political prisoner himself and has made a great pretense about freeing prisoners of this type. However, little has been done and political prisoners are a fact of life throughout the country.

Torture in custody is a serious problem as well. It is used as the most common means to obtain confession statements. As yet, there has been no serious effort by the government to make torture a crime in the country. It provides impunity to the perpetrators who are mostly either policemen or members of the armed forces. Furthermore, there is no means for the protection of witnesses. This discourages victims from making complaints. While the international jurisprudence on the issue has evolved into very high standards, the situation in Pakistan resembles the stone ages.

JOIN'S POP'S "SET THEM FREE" GROUP

POWER IT FORWARD

Do a favor, give someone a break, offer help before it's asked for. Move the world around you and it will continue to move. Paying it forward is good work, personal work. Pass it on. Tell others to do the same.

JOIN POP’S “POWER IT FORWARD” GROUP 

WATER

In Pakistan’s arid southwest province of Balochistan, water tables are falling everywhere as a fast-growing local population swelled by Afghan refugees is pumping water far faster than aquifers can recharge. The provincial capital of Quetta, as noted earlier, is facing a particularly dire situation. Naser Faruqui, a researcher at Canada’s International Development Research Centre, describes the situation facing Quetta: “With over a million people living there now, many of whom are Afghan refugees, the possibility of confrontation over decreasing water resources, or even mass migration from the city, is all too real.”

JOIN POP’S “CLEAN WATER IS A RIGHT” GROUP