62 million Pakistanis now living below poverty line

[owais.usmani]

62 million Pakistanis now living below poverty line ​

KARACHI: The number of Pakistanis now living below the poverty line has crossed the 62 million mark, according to the latest official statistics.

The State Bank of Pakistan in its latest annual report on the economy revealed that the World Bank’s task force on food security has estimated that the Head Count Ratio (HCR) regarding poverty increased in Pakistan to 33.8 percent in FY08 (fiscal year 2007-08) and 36.1 percent in FY09, projecting that 62 million people in the country now live below the poverty line.

The SBP, quoting the interim report of the Panel of Economists constituted by the government and Planning Commission, pointed out that as many as 10 million more people were expected to fall into the poverty trap.

The interim report, ‘Economic Stabilisation with a Human Face’, states that the head count ratio in the country may have risen by 3.5 percentage points in FY08 from 22.3 percent in FY06. A further rise is expected in FY09 by an additional 2.7 percentage points. This brings the head count ratio figures in the country to 28.5 percent in FY09, the SBP said.

The central bank pointed out that recent data suggested that between 2005 and 2009, more than 12 million to 14 million people were expected to have slipped into poverty. Considering these figures, it is estimated that poverty may have risen by 30 percent to 35 percent in FY09. The SBP predicted that the global economic crisis, decline in the manufacturing sector in the country and closure of industries due to a power crisis was likely to push more people into poverty.

However, reports reveal that poverty in Pakistan has risen in line with the international trend. Conflicting reports about the level of poverty in the country have forced the government to revisit the poverty figures for FY08, SBP added.

Subsequently, the World Bank re-visited the poverty estimates by the Centre for Poverty Reduction and Social Policy Development, which found a four to five percentage point increase in poverty figures in the last quarter of FY08. The World Bank has projected that the HCR in Pakistan may rise above 25 percent in FY10, SBP said.

Moreover, the World Health Organization’s inter-agency assessment mission 2008 on the impact of the food crisis in Pakistan said 24 percent of the population was still living under the poverty line, SBP said. Quoting from the WHO assessment, SBP further said there were chances of a severe food crisis and subsequent social unrest in the country.

62 million Pakistanis now living below poverty line

 

[PlanetWarrior]

Would that be approximately 35% of the population ? That is a disturbing increase if true

 

[masijames]

thats bullshit if one person wrote an artical saying there is 62 millions people are under poverty line with out providing any solid evidence i mean reserch or investigation done by any organization such as untied nation

 

[idea123]

thats bullshit if one person wrote an artical saying there is 62 millions people are under poverty line with out providing any solid evidence i mean reserch or investigation done by any organization such as untied nation

This is a report by SBP in association with UN.
Both organisations have done their "home work" before coming up with the data of approx 62 million.
Anyway, it's a disturbing news.

 

[Spring Onion]

thats bullshit if one person wrote an artical saying there is 62 millions people are under poverty line with out providing any solid evidence i mean reserch or investigation done by any organization such as untied nation

wether the figure is true or not but its a problem we need to look into seriously.

Being an agricultural country the more we need to boost this sector with proper planning which in result creates more job opportunities and decreases the prospect of unemployment and poverty.

 

[graphican]

thats bullshit if one person wrote an artical saying there is 62 millions people are under poverty line with out providing any solid evidence i mean reserch or investigation done by any organization such as untied nation

When single Chipati is for 5 rupee and milk for 40, you can only imagine how a person who earns 200 rupee a day would be able to life his life. Just to remind you, 6,000 is the minimum wage in Pakistan and that makes 200 rupee a day.

200 Rupee, for a family of 3,

cost of chipati = 5 Chipaties a day per person, 15x5 = 75.
1 litter of milk = 40 Rupees
Salan = 60 (1/2 kg of vegetable+oil+fire+spices)

Total food expense = 175

House Expense = ?
Electricity = ?
Water = ?
Cloth = ?
Health ?
Education = ?
Security = ?
Transportation = ?
Savings = ?

What if the family is of 5 people?

Say thanks to God that this number is only 35%, even when people like Zardari and Rehman Malik are governing this country.

May God Bless Pakistan and its Peope!

 

[Spring Onion]

And you forgot to mention the electricity bills which is far far far more than your usage of this commodity.

You have to pay double taxes more than the actual price of the power and gas you used

 

[SMC]

Wasn't it around 20% not too long ago? How can it increase so heavily in a few years time?

 

[SMC]

Neither country has any bragging rights or anything. 80% of indians live on less than 50 cents a day, but as seen here Pakistan's situation also seems to be getting worse because of the economic downturn. Both countries have a long way to go to get rid of poverty.

I think poverty problem is only slightly better in Pakistan because of better wealth distribution but there's other problems as well besides that.

 

[SMC]

Another thing to note is the poverty measurement standard being used. They are probably not using the $1 per day UN standard. That would probably result in a far bigger number, beyond 100 million.

 

[faisal4pro]

Thts true! According to Economic Survey, 33.5% population is living below poverty live!

Main reason is high Inflation. Purchasing power has been increased 13% compelling poor to become more poor and there is, practically, no middle class now in Pakistan!

 

[trickey]

Neither country has any bragging rights or anything. 80% of indians live on less than 50 cents a day, but as seen here Pakistan's situation also seems to be getting worse because of the economic downturn. Both countries have a long way to go to get rid of poverty.

I think poverty problem is only slightly better in Pakistan because of better wealth distribution but there's other problems as well besides that.

But neither country should be particularly ashamed. We started with extreme poverty and equitable prosperity is many decades away.
The most alarming trend in India is rising income disparity. Of this, India can be reasonably alarmed. I agree Pakistan has fared better in this department.

 

[Brainwashed]

I wonder what the defined standard of such a "poverty line" is...

 

[53fd]

Myths perpetrated by the Indian media. Let me quote you some statistical evidence from all the past years.

India:

Pakistan:

Pakistan's poverty in 2008: 17.2%

India's poverty in 2000: 26.1% (from the graph)

India's poverty in 2004: 27.5% (from the link)

India's poverty in 2010 (after the economic boom): 37.2% (from the link)

Pakistan's poverty has gone down, India's poverty has gone up. India's poverty rate is twice of that of Pakistan.

100 million more Indians now living in poverty - The Economic Times

 

[American Pakistani]

Thats alarming, seriously guys the country seems drowning after Musharraf left. What else can we expect when PPP thugs & theives like Zardari, Rahman Malik(lyari gang war supporter,& creater of unrest in Karachi) are running the country.

62million is toooooooo much

Ya Allah rehem