 “poverty is the root of all evils” fits well in the context of Pakistan.

Poverty is usually the result of

inequality or the prevailing injustice in society. It may lead to corrupt practices and poor law and
order situation. It is one of the main reasons that over seven million children in the country are
out of school. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), over 40 percent
people in Pakistan are living in so-called multi-dimensional poverty with over two-thirds of people
in tribal areas (73 per cent) and Baluchistan (71 per cent) However, the Economic Survey of
Pakistan 2017-18 reported that national poverty level is about 25 per cent. Pakistan ranks 147th
out of 188 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI). A high population growth rate, low
per capita income, low literacy rate, feudalism based economic system, lack of social justice and
high unemployment rates are some of main reasons behind high poverty level. live in poverty.
Some of the previous governments had adopted redistribution policies like land reforms, pricing
of agricultural products, subsidies, social security payments, high tax rates and direct income
transfers. Economic growth is a necessity but not a sufficient condition to eradicate poverty. The
government must build an investment climate that facilitates the growth of the private sector and
simultaneously empowers poor . As the size of the non-agricultural sector increases, its growth
will have a greater potential impact on poverty through a larger capacity to absorb surplus labour
from agriculture. Such a mechanism does appear to have worked in the experience of the Republic
of Korea. Korea experienced rapid growth in output and employment in the non-agricultural
sector, laying the basis for a relatively egalitarian growth process in which rising demand for
labour ensured full employment and rising real wages people to participate in that growth.
Sustained economic growth was the main driving force behind poverty elimination in Taiwan. The
government of Taiwan spent US$5.08 billion on social welfare projects and offered numerous
sorts of assistance to people and families from low-pay sets. Notwithstanding money, assistance
to get employment is given to the breadwinners in families, alongside educational guide for
school-age children and well-being programs for women and children. In order to declare poverty
reduction as part of the official agenda, the Government need to introduce legislation like Canada
did in the recent past. The Government may propose a Poverty Reduction Act in Parliament. The
Act would make Pakistan’s official poverty line and the poverty reduction targets the law of the
land. The Opposition should also support this Act as it will make the government accountable in
case they are not able to achieve their targets.
 Grinding poverty and lack of development fuel child labour, illiteracy, religious extremism and
endless conflicts on massive scales. The Gross National Income per capita is only $5,031. Life
expectancy in Pakistanis at 66.4 years and the expected years of schooling is miserably low at 8.1
years. These figures are among the lowest in the world. In order to alleviate poverty, policy-
makers need to focus on achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.