Islamabad, July 25 (IANS) Pakistan enters FY2026 still classified by the World Bank as a lower-middle-income country, and it sits within the Bank’s “blend” category, a status that gives Islamabad access to both concessional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and near-market lending from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), according to an analysis.On paper, that dual access should give Pakistan more room than most developing economies to i…
Latest Poverty News & Updates
Dhaka, July 18 (IANS) As Bangladesh grapples with the persistent challenge of human trafficking, women and girls remain disproportionately vulnerable, with gender inequality, child marriage, limited educational opportunities, and labour market discrimination exposing them to greater risks of exploitation, a report has stated. Human rights advocates have called for greater investment in girls’ education, expanded economic opportunities for women, and stronger community-based protection mechanisms…
Islamabad, July 2 (IANS) Pakistan’s federal budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 has prioritised military spending over public welfare by increasing defence spending by 18 per cent to three trillion Pakistani Rupees (PK), showcasing the armed offers as the clear winner during attempts to meet economic stabilisation targets. The budget offers little to the human resources that actually drive economic growth. “The combined federal allocations for higher education, primary schooling, and healthcare …
New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Pakistan’s slow growth is more than an economic challenge – it is the country’s foremost national security threat, and no amount of military strength, diplomacy, or managed stability can rescue a nation that is sliding deeper into poverty while its population keeps growing, according to an article in the Pakistani media. The security establishment’s greatest adversary is not India, Afghanistan, or terrorism, but Pakistan’s own slow economic decay. This is not about GDP; …
New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio has fallen to a historic low of 13.1 per cent in 2024 from an average of around 18 per cent over nearly four decades, while foreign direct investment (FDI) has halved to 0.5 per cent of GDP, a report has said.According to an analysis published in Dawn, the country’s declining investment reflects a widening disconnect between its ambitious economic targets and the policy environment.Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio declined from 17.2 …
New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) Malnutrition is costing Pakistan an estimated $17 billion annually through lost productivity, higher healthcare expenditure, poor educational outcomes and premature deaths, highlighting a growing public health and economic challenge, according to a report.The report by The Express Tribune said the crisis is being exacerbated by climate-related disasters, food insecurity, unsafe water and inadequate investment in nutrition programmes.Despite contributing less than one pe…
New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) The Balochistan government’s newly announced budget for fiscal year 2026-27 has triggered widespread disappointment among government employees and ordinary citizens, many of whom believe the financial plan offers little relief to people struggling with rising costs, unemployment and inadequate public services, a report has said.Discontent surfaced prominently during the provincial budget session when members of the Balochistan Employees’ Grand Alliance staged protests…
Kabul, June 22 (IANS) As many as 16 million people in Afghanistan will need access to clean water and sanitation services in 2026, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday, local media reported. The OCHA said water scarcity is exposing children to greater health risks and affecting daily life in Afghanistan, forcing people to taking coping mechanisms amid deteriorating conditions. The agency stated that access to safe drinking water and sanitat…
New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Balochistan is facing acute unemployment and economic insecurity and a new survey indicates that the province has emerged as Pakistan’s poorest region, with the poverty rate rising to 47 per cent.The ‘Pakistan Economic Survey 2025–26; finds that “nearly one in every two residents of the province is living below the poverty line, placing Balochistan well above the national average,” according to the report in Balochistan Post.The report says that Balochistan’…