Framework for Developing Social Protection Policies being prepared to overcome poverty

March 8, 2019: The government is in process of preparing a National Framework for Developing Social Protection Policies to lower ratio of poverty in the country.

The draft Framework is expected to be completed soon and presented for approval of competent forum.

Giving details about measures adopted to reduce incidence of poverty, sources at Planning, Development and Reforms Division on Friday said the government uses two parameters to ascertain and report level of poverty in Pakistan - namely Cost of Basic Need Method and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Method.

According to Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) method, poverty headcount ratio is 24.3 per cent based on latest available HIES data of 2015-16.

The other steps included steering the economy towards higher and sustained growth path and making growth inclusive, creation of a Poverty Alleviation Coordination Council to synergize efforts of various organizations working for poverty alleviation in public and private sector, eliminate duplication and overlap, developing a framework to improve effectiveness and implementing plans for capacity building and performance enhancement of such organizations.

Reducing burden of indirect taxation and broadening tax base, opening doors of socio-economic uplift through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - signing MoU with China to learn from their experience in poverty reduction were the other steps taken.

The authorities concerned is also re-prioritizing Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to focus more on pro-poor projects and projects for less developed areas, scaling up activities of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and  re-organizing Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal to focus on poverty alleviation and asset transfer to rural poor to graduate them out of poverty.

Another measures adopted were approval of provision of US $ 82.6 million funds (IFAD funded) as grant to PPAF for disbursement to 320,000 beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme to help them graduate out of poverty.

Micro-credits for low cost housing to provide shelter to homeless and providing free of cost shelters for the poorest homeless, employment creating through housing construction and increased access to microfinance under Prime Minister's Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and designating 20 new destinations to promote tourism industry and improve livelihoods are the other steps.

Some other steps included expanding coverage of Prime Minister's Health Insurance scheme by launching first phase of countrywide Sehat Insaf Card Scheme to provide free medical treatment to approximately 80 million people while finalization of National Nutrition Program is also in process to upscale nutrition and ensure food security.

(APP)