A recent study by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) shows a worrying increase in the country’s poverty rate, which has gone up from 38.6 percent to 39.5 percent in the last five years.
Among the provinces, Balochistan is facing the most severe poverty crisis, with 70 percent of its people living below the poverty line. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh also have notably high poverty rates.
Rural areas are experiencing the highest levels of poverty compared to cities.
The study also points out significant challenges in getting good education and healthcare. Nearly half of the population does not have access to quality education, and many people are lacking basic healthcare services.
To improve the situation for vulnerable communities, urgent action and specific interventions are necessary to tackle these socio-economic gaps and enhance the lives of people in need.