ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has sought provincial input on a proposed national framework to reduce poverty, with Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation Pir Syed Imran Ahmed Shah saying three provinces have responded positively while the fourth is yet to reply.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the framework aimed to coordinate federal and provincial efforts and could reduce the cost of poverty alleviation initiatives by 75%.
He said that provinces were not subordinate to the federal government and could not be directly monitored by it.
The minister criticised the World Bank for placing Pakistan in the Middle East and North Africa region rather than South Asia, alleging that the move was intended to malign the country. He also disputed the bank’s assessment of poverty in Pakistan.
An international conference titled “From Poverty to Prosperity” will be held in Islamabad on October 13 and 14, bringing together delegates from 12 countries, experts and institutional representatives to develop a roadmap for tackling poverty.
The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wanted to improve the lives of vulnerable communities under the Uraan Pakistan Initiative. He added that the conference would strengthen collective efforts to reduce poverty through coordinated policies and sustainable interventions.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) Chief Executive Officer Nader Gul Barech said the organisation was working with partners across 157 districts.
It had established 171,200 community institutions benefiting 2.67 million people, including 63% women, and provided loans worth Rs139.61 billion.
The organisation had extended 3.69 million interest-free loans with a 98% loan repayment rate. Barech said government efforts had previously reduced poverty, but figures in the latest economic survey showed a slight increase. Several factors contributed to the rise, he said.
The minister announced that a poverty graduation programme would be launched in 25 districts over the next two months. He said a comprehensive national framework was needed to improve data-sharing among federal and provincial governments and institutions working on poverty alleviation.
He also said complaints that people were being asked to pay money to obtain microfinance loans would be investigated if reported.
Although progress had been made in improving living standards, the government had yet to achieve its desired poverty reduction targets.
Organised by the PPAF with the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, the Centre of Excellence for National Cohesion and Outreach, and Paigham-e-Pakistan, the conference will examine social protection, public investment, access to finance and private-sector opportunities. It will also consider how local communities can participate in development to ensure poverty reduction efforts deliver lasting results.
