Pakistan plans national framework to cut poverty by 75%

The federal government is working on a national framework to reduce poverty and improve coordination between federal and provincial authorities. Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation Pir Syed Imran Ahmed Shah has said three provinces have responded positively to the proposal, while the fourth is yet to submit its response.

The proposed framework aims to bring government departments and poverty alleviation institutions under a coordinated approach. The minister said the initiative could reduce the cost of poverty reduction programmes by up to 75 per cent. He stressed that better coordination would help avoid duplication and improve the use of public resources.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Shah said provincial governments were not subordinate to the federal government. He noted that the centre could not directly monitor provincial administrations. He called for cooperation between the two levels of government to ensure that poverty reduction policies produced meaningful results.

The minister also criticised the World Bank for categorising Pakistan under the Middle East and North Africa region instead of South Asia. He alleged that the classification was intended to damage the country’s image. He also challenged the bank’s assessment of poverty in Pakistan.

The government is preparing to host an international conference titled “From Poverty to Prosperity” in Islamabad on October 13 and 14. Representatives from 12 countries, development experts and institutional officials are expected to participate. The conference will focus on developing a roadmap to address poverty through coordinated policies and sustainable development programmes.

Shah said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wanted to improve the living standards of vulnerable communities under the Uraan Pakistan Initiative. He said the upcoming conference would provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and identify practical measures to reduce poverty across the country.

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is also working with development partners across 157 districts. Its chief executive officer, Nader Gul Barech, said the organisation had established 171,200 community institutions that had benefited 2.67 million people. Women account for 63 per cent of the beneficiaries.

Barech said the organisation had provided loans worth Rs139.61 billion to support individuals and communities. It had also extended 3.69 million interest-free loans, with a reported repayment rate of 98 per cent. These initiatives aim to improve access to finance and help low-income households strengthen their livelihoods.

He said poverty levels had declined in earlier periods due to government interventions and development efforts. However, the latest economic survey showed a slight increase in poverty. He noted that several factors had contributed to the rise, highlighting the need for stronger and more effective measures.

The minister also announced that a poverty graduation programme would be launched in 25 districts over the next two months. The programme is intended to help vulnerable households move towards greater financial stability and reduce their dependence on assistance.

Shah emphasised the need for a comprehensive national framework that would improve data-sharing among federal and provincial governments, as well as organisations involved in poverty alleviation. Better information-sharing could help authorities identify deserving households, coordinate support and monitor the impact of development programmes.

He also addressed concerns about people allegedly being asked to pay money to obtain microfinance loans. The minister said such complaints would be investigated if formally reported. The government aims to ensure that financial assistance reaches intended beneficiaries without improper charges.

Despite progress in improving living standards, the minister acknowledged that the government had not achieved its desired poverty reduction targets. He stressed that stronger institutional cooperation and more effective policies were necessary to address the continuing challenges faced by low-income communities.

The upcoming conference is being organised by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, the Centre of Excellence for National Cohesion and Outreach, and Paigham-e-Pakistan.

Participants will discuss social protection, public investment, access to finance and opportunities for private-sector involvement. The discussions will also examine ways to involve local communities more directly in development initiatives.