Human rights workers and psychiatrists say rampant inflation in terror-torn Pakistan is helping extremists recruit suicide bombers and driving many more poor people to take their own lives.

“We are in a warlike situation and prevalent poverty is a major factor behind the recent spate of suicides in the country. People enroll in suicide squads in terrorist camps to support their families. Most are teenagers at an impressionable age,” Javed Iqbal Chishty, a senior psychiatrist told ucanews.com.

Chishty’s follows the announcement of the government’s annual budget earlier this month, in which 130 billion rupees (US$1.5 billion) has been allocated for Pakistan’s war on terror.

“The government is focused more on the security situation and spending less on people’s development. Low wages are not in step with a whole series of price rises which is causing a rise in depression amongst the population,” he said.

The introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) has already been delayed till October 1 amid mounting criticism over the financial burden on the public.

Catholic newspapers have also highlighted the poverty link to suicides and warned VAT could see suicides rise further.

“Bills and prices of basic commodities will increase by at least 15 percent when VAT comes into effect … Every day price hikes have become the norm and the number of suicides is increasing among unemployed youths and the poor,” said Catholic Naqib, the Lahore archdiocesan Urdu bimonthly, in its latest editorial.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, HRCP, 141 people committed suicide in the month up to Feb. 25. The commission recorded 138 suicides in January.

“There is no government data on suicides as most are not reported. Many of the suicide victims are on daily wages. Things will only improve when the state budget is implemented sincerely,” Nadim Anthony, a Catholic HRCP council member told ucanews.com.

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