World Bank Report: Nearly 45% of Pakistanis Live Below Poverty Line
World Bank Report: Nearly 45% of Pakistanis Live Below Poverty Line
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A recent World Bank report reveals that approximately 44.7% of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line, based on updated global poverty thresholds, Dawn E-Paper reported. The report, relying on a 2018-19 survey, reflects changes in international poverty lines rather than worsening economic conditions.
The World Bank revised its International Poverty Lines (IPLs) using 2021 purchasing power parity (PPP) data, increasing the low-income country threshold from $2.15 to $3 per day. Under this new $3 IPL, Pakistan’s extreme poverty rate rose sharply from 4.9% to 16.5%. For lower-middle-income countries, the poverty line increased from $3.65 to $4.20, raising Pakistan’s poverty rate from 39.8% to 44.7%. The upper-middle-income poverty line rose to $8.30, pushing the poverty rate to 88.4%.
The changes largely result from updated cost-of-living and consumption data globally, not from actual declines in living standards. Pakistan’s ongoing Poverty and Resilience Assessment (PERA) will provide updated insights later this year, including spatial disparities and fiscal equity. The World Bank emphasizes that national poverty lines remain crucial for policy guidance.
