Loan interest forces 41 to commit suicide in Sindh

KARACHI: At least 41 people, including women, have committed suicide in interior Sindh within last three months after getting tired of interest on loan.

Following this report, the provincial government has taken notice of the horrific incidents and directed the concerned authorities to get people rid of ones who charge interest from money borrowers.

Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Law Murtaza Wahab has apprised Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about the suicide incidents.

Read More: KP govt bans interest on private loans

The PPP chairman has directed for legislation to shut down business of private interest across the province. He has directed the concerned department to launch crackdown on such miscreants. “Those seeking interest money on loan are national criminal. Influential people should close this business.”

Murtaza Wahab said it had been observed that people of Thar, Kashmore and Khairpur were mostly committing suicide.

“Poor peasants are given loans to trap them into interest which keeps multiplying,” he said demanding strict action against the money lenders who were exploiting peasants.

It should be noted that last year the federal government had announced to provide interest-free loans to skilled, deserving and unemployed youth on merit in each district throughout the country.

In the first phase, applications were to be received from Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad districts.

The government said the initiative would not only abolish the interest system but also enable people to earn livelihood for their families.