ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (APP): Poverty in Pakistan extends far beyond a lack of income, affecting millions of people who struggle to access nutritious food, quality education, healthcare and dignified employment. As the country marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Senator Sherry Rehman has called for urgent, coordinated and people-centred action to address the deep-rooted challenges of poverty, hunger and inequality.
Emphasising that every citizen deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, Rehman said poverty should be recognised not merely as an economic challenge but as a denial of basic rights, opportunities and the conditions necessary for a decent life. She urged the country to renew its commitment to ensuring that no family is left behind.
“Poverty is not simply a lack of income; it is a denial of dignity, opportunity and the basic conditions necessary for a decent life,” she said, stressing the need for a comprehensive national response to the growing challenges faced by vulnerable communities.
Pakistan’s poverty indicators highlight the scale of the challenge. According to the United Nations Development Programme’s Multidimensional Poverty Index, 38.3 per cent of the country’s population experiences overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards. These hardships affect not only household incomes but also access to essential services, educational opportunities and the resources needed to improve living conditions.
The World Bank’s October 2026 regional economic update further underscores the severity of the situation, reporting that Pakistan accounts for 48 per cent of people living in extreme poverty across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) region. The poverty rate measured against the international threshold of $3 a day also rose by 6.4 percentage points between 2018–19 and 2024–25, reflecting the mounting economic pressures on households.
Food insecurity has emerged as another major concern, with more than 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population reportedly unable to afford a healthy diet. The consequences are particularly serious for children, whose physical growth, cognitive development and long-term well-being depend on adequate nutrition during their early years.
According to UNICEF, the acute malnutrition rate in Pakistan stands at 17.7 per cent, exceeding the World Health Organization’s 15 per cent emergency threshold. Meanwhile, approximately 40 per cent of children under five suffer from stunted growth, highlighting the long-term effects of inadequate nutrition, persistent poverty and limited access to essential services.
These figures represent millions of families struggling to meet their most basic needs, with the burden falling disproportionately on women, children, daily-wage workers and economically vulnerable communities. Rising living costs, economic instability, climate-related disasters and limited employment opportunities have further complicated efforts to improve household living standards.
Rehman stressed that poverty eradication must be treated as a national priority, supported by sustained investment in human development, decent employment, climate resilience and equitable access to public services. Addressing poverty, she maintained, requires more than short-term assistance; it demands policies that enable individuals and families to build secure and sustainable livelihoods.
Social protection programmes remain an important part of this effort, helping low-income households cope with economic shocks and meet essential expenses. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), in particular, serves as a critical component of Pakistan’s social safety net by providing financial assistance to disadvantaged families, with a focus on supporting women and strengthening household welfare.
Through the Benazir Kafaalat Programme, eligible families receive regular cash assistance to help cover their basic needs. The Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme encourages children from beneficiary households to continue their education by linking financial support to school attendance, helping reduce the economic barriers that often prevent children from remaining in school.
The Benazir Nashonuma Programme, meanwhile, supports pregnant and lactating women and young children, seeking to address malnutrition and improve maternal and child health outcomes. Together, these initiatives illustrate the role of targeted social protection in responding to interconnected challenges involving poverty, education, nutrition and healthcare.
However, the effectiveness of such interventions depends on sustained funding, efficient implementation and the ability to reach the most vulnerable households. Social protection must also be accompanied by broader measures that expand employment opportunities, strengthen public services and improve access to education, healthcare and economic resources.
Rehman also highlighted the importance of placing climate resilience at the centre of Pakistan’s poverty eradication strategy. Floods, droughts, extreme heat and other climate-related disasters repeatedly threaten livelihoods, damage infrastructure and disrupt access to education and healthcare. For families already living close to the poverty line, a single disaster can wipe out savings, destroy sources of income and push them into deeper deprivation.
Climate-related risks are particularly challenging for communities that depend on agriculture and daily-wage employment, where income security is closely tied to weather conditions and local economic activity. When crops fail, homes are damaged or workplaces become inaccessible, vulnerable households often have few resources to recover without external support.
Investments in climate-resilient agriculture, disaster preparedness, livelihood recovery and accessible social protection can help reduce these risks. Strengthening local resilience is also essential to ensuring that development gains are not repeatedly lost to natural disasters and economic disruptions.
“Eradicating poverty requires more than emergency relief. It demands policies that protect the most vulnerable today while creating pathways to opportunity, economic security and dignity tomorrow,” Rehman said, calling for stronger social safety nets, greater investment in children, women’s empowerment and measures to protect communities against climate and economic shocks.
Beyond immediate assistance, sustainable poverty reduction requires a coordinated approach that connects social protection with education, healthcare, skills development and opportunities for productive employment. Expanding access to decent work and supporting people in developing sustainable sources of income can help households move beyond dependence on assistance towards greater economic independence.
Equally important is ensuring that women and disadvantaged communities have fair access to employment, financial resources and public services. Addressing the barriers that limit their participation in economic activity can strengthen household incomes while contributing to broader and more inclusive growth.
Rehman reaffirmed that eliminating poverty must remain a collective national responsibility, requiring sustained political commitment, effective public policies and coordinated action by federal and provincial governments, civil society organisations and development partners.
As Pakistan confronts persistent poverty, food insecurity and climate-related vulnerabilities, the challenge lies in translating commitments into practical and lasting improvements in people’s lives. Strengthening social safety nets, investing in human development and building resilient livelihoods will be essential to ensuring that economic progress reaches those most in need.
The broader goal, she emphasised, must be to create a society in which every citizen has access to basic necessities, meaningful opportunities and the security to live with dignity.