Islamabad : As per the World Bank’s update today, including the note Global Poverty Lines: What it Means for Pakistan, it has been reaffirmed that the national poverty line remains the most relevant benchmark for policymaking. Based on the latest official Household Survey (2018-19), 21.9% of the population lived below the national Cost-of-Basic-Needs line.
This update clarifies earlier confusion: the higher international poverty rates recently cited were the result of a technical recalibration of global methodology and per-day dollar thresholds, not a sudden rise in poverty in Pakistan. The World Bank’s own assessment underscores that while international poverty lines are useful for cross-country comparisons, Pakistan’s national line must continue to guide domestic policy, social protection, and poverty reduction efforts.
Poverty levels have indeed faced setbacks in recent years, largely due to extraordinary shocks such as COVID-19, floods, and macroeconomic stress. These challenges, which also affected many other developing countries, are being addressed through targeted actions. The government has expanded the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), scaled up emergency cash transfers during crises, and continues to invest in job creation, agriculture, and small businesses to support sustainable livelihoods.
In addition, a number of targeted programs to alleviate poverty are underway at the federal level, including the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Workers’ Welfare Fund, and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, among others. Provinces also have their own dedicated poverty reduction and social protection programs underway, recognizing that this is a national challenge requiring coordinated action across all tiers of government.
At the same time, work is underway to make subsidies more targeted and equitable, strengthen social protection systems, and expand investment in health and education to build human capital. These priorities are aligned with the broader reform agenda, ensuring that Pakistan not only cushions vulnerable households against shocks but also creates the conditions for inclusive and sustained poverty reduction.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
