It has been months since the start of the war against poverty. When it started, I was afraid to read about committees being formed to study the matter because forming committees means that nothing would be done, that solving the problem would be lost. We have seen subcommittees, too, formed from main committees, with each subcommittee studying something different. Each committee issues recommendations. These recommendations take a long time to review. Meanwhile, the poor people do not have time to wait.
Officials are now complaining of a lack of funds to solve the poverty problem. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s statement to officials recently to speed up development projects (including public housing) has put fighting poverty on top of the list.
The budget of this year is the largest in the country’s history. This means that money will pour into the services sector. The budget surplus should be directed to narrow the gap between the rich and the middle- and low-income classes.
Poverty is the biggest social disaster, which generates more social and security disasters.
Poverty begins by hitting the youth first. There are two types of poor Saudis: Those that are working in jobs and receiving very low salaries, and the unemployed.
How will this budget surplus improve the condition of young Saudis?
The budget surplus could be used to provide social luxuries, or, better, it could be directed toward fighting poverty and eliminating the problem of unemployment. The latter will do more to create a larger and more stable middle class. It is here that the war on poverty must start.
