Pakistan to link poverty data with targeted public investment by 2027

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to complete its latest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) assessment by the end of 2027 and use the findings to direct public investment towards communities most affected by poverty.

The government intends to incorporate the results into the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and provincial development plans. The move aims to ensure that public funds reach areas facing the greatest social and economic deprivation.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal outlined the proposed strategy at a high-level event titled “Pathways to a Poverty-Free Pakistan: Advancing Multidimensional Poverty Measurement for Evidence-Based Policy and Action.” The event was attended by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Director Professor Sabina Alkire.

The government wants to make poverty data a regular part of development planning rather than relying on assessments published only every few years. According to a presentation by the Ministry of Planning, the latest MPI findings will help identify areas with high poverty levels and guide decisions on where investment is most urgently needed.

The initiative is intended to shift the focus from measuring poverty to taking practical steps to reduce it. Authorities aim to use evidence-based planning to improve the allocation of development funds and strengthen social protection measures.

The government also plans to seek assistance from international development partners to review and validate the poverty estimates. These include the United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and OPHI.

Under the proposed timeline, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics will conduct the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) survey to gather the necessary data. The survey results are expected to be available between April and June 2027.

Poverty estimates will then be prepared from July to December 2027, with international partners involved in validating the figures.

The MPI assesses poverty through multiple indicators rather than income alone. This approach can help policymakers identify different forms of deprivation and determine where public services and social support require greater attention.

After the assessment is completed, the government plans to use the findings to guide federal and provincial development priorities and improve the targeting of welfare programmes.