The dwellers of a village near Lahore, Punjab have found a strange way of reduction of Poverty - this is to sell one kidney. Almost every home has a member who has sold one kidney to marry sister or daughter or to cater for other essentials of life. The incidences of kidney selling have risen drastically in Punjab province. As per law, selling kidney is illegal and the kidney required for transplant should only be donated by blood relation or very near relative.

During the first week of June, a member of Punjab assembly, Mr. Arshad Mehmood informed the house that Kidney selling is the second option among poor to get money - the first being selling their children. He added, "There are at least five groups in Rawalpindi-Islamabad who are doing this business openly and in an organized way. These consist of private hospitals, surgeons, paramedics and agents. The surgeons arrange kidney for the patients from their own resources". He demanded that government should activate the law enforcing agencies and should take serious action against all those who are involved in this business.

In reply to Mr. Arshad Mehmood, Dr Farzana Nazir, the parliamentary secretary of Health in Punjab assembly admitted in front of the house that several private hospitals of Punjab were involved in illegal sale and transplant of Kidneys. She added, "Patients from Saudi Arabia and Middle East come here for such illegal transplants". Dr Farzana informed the house that government is working on a more effective law and nothing could be done until a definite law is available.

Poverty can force a person to do anything and time has proved no law could be effective unless real steps are taken for reduction of poverty.