'Gender equality key to curbing economic inequalities'.

LAHORE -- Economic experts and academics at a seminar had a consensus that gender equality is the key to overcoming economic inequalities, saying Pakistan cannot progress without ensuring equal opportunities for its male and female citizens.

They were addressing a seminar to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality and the role of wealth tax in the national economy, held at the Government College University (GCU) here on Wednesday.

Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC), in collaboration with the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Alleviation (SAAPE) and Oxfam International, organised the seminar and brought together experts to examine the findings of a recently released book, 'Implications of Covid-19 on Economic Inequality in Asia' and a report entitled 'Tax Wealth Now'.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi stressed that understanding the implications of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Asia was vital to developing effective solutions to address the persisting impacts of the pandemic on society.

According to Mustafa Talpur, 67 per cent of the wealth created in the world in the last two years was earned by 1pc of the rich class, while 99pc of people only received 37pc of it.

Mr Talpur highlighted the digital divide, where students without access to quality technology were unable to continue their education during the pandemic. The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi Executive Director Dr Akbar Zaidi said the poverty and inequality were two different things, and that inequality had increased globally. He identified the main causes of inequality in Pakistan as gender bias and...