Islamabad – June 26, 2025: A parliamentary committee has sounded the alarm over Pakistan’s worsening poverty crisis, warning that poverty levels could reach as high as 50% if immediate structural reforms are not implemented in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and broader social safety initiatives.
The issue was discussed during a session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, chaired by MNA Sajid Hussain Turi. Lawmakers expressed serious concern over the increasing number of people falling below the poverty line, particularly in rural and flood-affected regions.
Poverty on the Rise: Lawmakers Sound Alarm
During the briefing, officials warned that:
- The current poverty rate is nearing 40%, with projections indicating a sharp rise to 50% in the absence of intervention
- Inflation, unemployment, and climate shocks are aggravating the crisis
- Social protection systems like BISP are struggling with inefficiencies and outdated beneficiary data
“This is a national emergency. Our social safety mechanisms are failing the people,” said committee chair Sajid Turi.
Calls for BISP Overhaul and Data Transparency
The committee has called for:
- A complete overhaul of the BISP database, including re-verification of eligible families
- Integration with NADRA and provincial data systems to eliminate ghost beneficiaries
- Real-time digital tracking of payments and outcomes
- Targeted expansion to underserved districts and flood-hit areas
Officials from the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation admitted gaps in implementation and pledged to accelerate reforms, including AI-based data validation and gender-inclusive enrollment.
Climate Disasters and Economic Instability Add to Burden
Lawmakers highlighted how natural disasters, including floods and droughts, have deepened poverty in rural Pakistan. They also pointed to:
- Shrinking real wages and rising food insecurity
- Reduced foreign aid and development funding for welfare schemes
- Urban migration pressures straining city services
The committee emphasized that poverty alleviation must be a cross-sectoral effort involving health, education, food security, and job creation.
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