Pakistan’s poverty rate rises alarmingly; report reveals

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has revealed an alarming rise in the national poverty rate over the past five years, rising from 38.6 percent to 39.5 percent.

According to a PIDE research report, Balochistan is the most affected province, with 70 percent of its population living below the poverty line, while 48 percent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) population is in poverty. In Sindh, 45 percent of people live in poverty, while in Punjab, the rate is relatively low at 30 percent.

The report highlights the stark difference in poverty rates between rural and urban areas, with the rural poverty rate at 51 percent compared to 17 percent in urban areas across the country.

Additionally, the report further revealed that 26.5 percent of Pakistan’s population lives in substandard conditions, while 49.4 percent of the population lacks quality education.

However, a total of 24.1 percent of people are deprived of basic health facilities.