POVETY IN PAK VS INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES

Why is Pakistan Poor?

 

Corruption and Elitism in the Government

First is the fundamental flaw in Pakistan’s political system. Politics in Pakistan have always been
dominated by the elites. They share key common interests and together look after each other,
neglecting common people’s interests.

Lack of Democratic Ideals

Second is the absence of real democracy

 The absence of democracy and lack of political development in Pakistan are a consequence of direct
and indirect military rule

Both Religious and Secular Conflict

Furthermore, empowering Islam over secular ideals in a country which is much more diverse culturally
by the military establishment, has not only created a fictitious national unity but stunted even further,
the democratic and economic development.

Education Crisis

Pakistan spends only 2.6 percent of total GDP on education, which is the lowest in South Asia. In
1997, it was 3 percent, the highest in the country’s history. As a consequence of this low expenditure
overall, more than half of the country’s population is uneducated. And hundreds of thousands of poor
children are out of school.

10 Facts About Poverty in Pakistan

1. As of 2015, approximately 24% of Pakistani citizens lived below the national poverty
line. This is more than twice the global percentage of people living in extreme poverty and
amounts to more than 50 million people in Pakistan living in poverty.
2. Nearly 4% of Pakistan lives below $1.90 a day. As a result, nearly 9 million Pakistani
citizens live in extreme poverty. This puts them below the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
outlined in the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
3. As of 2018, almost 7% of babies died before their fifth birthday. Life in poverty makes it
extremely difficult to have access to proper housing, nutrition and medication.
4. The adult illiteracy rate in Pakistan is around 35%. Unequal access to proper and requisite
education is inseparable from the reality of poverty.
5. Pakistan also faces a severe overpopulation problem. While the nation has the fifth-highest
population in the world, it takes up less than a percent of this planet’s surface. Overpopulation
and unequal access to education amplify problems caused by poverty.
6. Pakistan has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.560. The nation ranks 152nd out of
189 countries and territories. In the last three decades, Pakistan’s HDI has increased by nearly
40%.
7. Appproximately 38% of Pakistani citizens are living in multidimensional
poverty. Another 13% are vulnerable to this status. From 2004 to 2015, the multidimensional
poverty rate has dropped from 55% to its current rate at 38%.
8. Poverty levels in Pakistan fluctuate throughout regions. In urban areas, poverty rates are
around 9%, while in rural areas poverty rates rise all the way to 55%. This disparity can be seen
among provinces in the Republic as well.
9. About 25 million Pakistani families rely on wage workers. They have
unfortunately become vulnerable due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister
has said that the pandemic is harder to deal with in countries facing the challenges of poverty.
10. The Pakistani government hopes to receive $5 billion in financial aid. This would
come from outside sources and countries, along with the $1.3 billion they have already received
from the IMF.