Two campaigners from Pakistan are to demand a public audit into their country’s debt at a meeting in Newham.

Dr Fayaz Ahmad and Abdul Khaliq will call for action at NewVic College, Prince Regent Lane, on Saturday, November 2, and give their insight into the country’s problem as part of a conference by Shared Planet which is exploring the issues of poverty, human rights and the environment.

Dr Ahmad, Islamic Relief’s Pakistan country director, said: “Pakistan’s economy is paralysed by its foreign debt burden.

“More than 50 million people live below the poverty line and efforts to tackle poverty are in tatters.

“The legitimacy of the debt needs to be challenged if widespread economic turmoil and instability are to be avoided.”

Abdul Khaliq added: “We are calling on people in the UK to support our demand for a public audit into Pakistan’s debt.”

Tim Jones, from the movement, Jubilee Debt Campaign, will also show how Pakistan’s experience is replicated across the world from Tunisia to Ireland, Jamaica to Greece.