Pakistan has beaten poverty before. It can do it again
Pakistan has already shown that poverty can be cut by more than half. Between 2005–06 and 2018–19, the national poverty rate fell from 50.4% to 21.9%. Yet, by 2024–25, it had climbed back to 28.9%. Why did we succeed before, what went wrong, and what
October 19, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan has already shown that poverty can be cut by more than half. Between 2005–06 and 2018–19, the national poverty rate fell from 50.4% to 21.9%. Yet, by 2024–25, it had climbed back to 28.9%. Why did we succeed before, what went wrong, and what must the government do to repeat that success? These are not merely questions about economic statistics. They concern the living standards and f...