Poverty has yet again increased in Pakistan, with fresh statistics placing nearly half of the population below the poverty line, demonstrating a widening gap between official claims and lived realities.
A recent assessment by the Social Policy and Development Centre, an independent research organisation, has revealed that poverty in Pakistan stands at 43.5 per cent, which implies that around 27 million people are living below the poverty line, significantly higher than the 28.9 per cent mentioned by government agencies, according to an editorial in Pakistan's leading daily, The Express Tribune.
Sharper rise in poverty
"Equally troubling is the shift in where poverty is deepening. Urban centres, once viewed as pathways to economic mobility, are now witnessing a sharper rise in poverty than rural areas. Rising housing costs, higher transport fares, expensive utilities and unaffordable healthcare have made city life increasingly difficult," the editorial mentioned.
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"The causes are neither sudden nor isolated. Persistent inflation has eroded purchasing power, while weak economic growth has limited income opportunities. Political instability has further disrupted policy continuity, and the aftereffects of the pandemic continue to weigh on households," it added.
Shrinking middle class
At the same time, income inequality has increased, with wealth concentrating among a narrow segment of the population. Economic issues weaken the trust of people in institutions and cause discontent. A shrinking middle class and an increasing underclass create a situation where governance becomes more reactive than reform-driven, as per the newspaper.
Earlier this month, a report stated that Pakistan's short-term inflation indicator, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), rose 6.44 per cent year on year in the week ended March 11, driven largely by sharp increases in petroleum and key food prices.
The indicator jumped 1.89 per cent from the prior week, indicating surging prices of key household commodities, according to a report in The Express Tribune, citing data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Petrol prices jumped 20.60 per cent and diesel rose 19.54 per cent on a weekly basis, while liquefied petroleum gas increased 12.13 per cent, acting as major drivers of price inflation in household items, the report said.
Food items also pushed the index higher, with onions up 9.63 per cent, bananas up 1.44 per cent and wheat flour surging 1.28 per cent week on week, the report added.
Other items posting smaller increases included chicken (0.66 per cent), pulse mash (0.55 per cent), and firewood.
(With inputs from agency)