Sinking into poverty

Latest UN assessment show poverty now threatening 7.5 million Pakistanis with hunger

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification of the United Nations has found that as many as 7.5 million Pakistanis are facing food insecurity at the emergency level, and though the figure is expected to fall this year, to 6,7 million, it still reflects the high level of poverty. This is not just being poor, not being able to afford the latest mobile phone or even a utility bill, but real poverty, being close to starvation. It is worth mentioning that official figures show that poverty has increased from 21.9 percent in 2018-19, but has increased to 28.8 percent in 2024-25.

It is noteworthy that during this time, the country has been on three IMF stabilisation programmes. Considering that one academic study has shown the correlation between IMF pogrammes, or more specifically IMF conditionalities achieved, and rise in poverty, it seems that even the current IMF programme will not lead toward a reduction in poverty. It seems to be always forgotten by policymakers that the IMF makes sure that a country is solvent enough to pay its debts. It holds no brief for an economy that has gone onto the right course being able to reduce poverty, or in any way improve the lives of its citizens. The IMF is not even particularly concerned about how the country is to increase its exports to get foreign exchange. This is odd, considering that it was the inability to earn enough foreign exchange that led to the country having recourse to the IMF in the first place.

The poverty incidence and the food insecurity level should be the primary source of the government’s self-assessment. If people are poor, to the point of starving, then the government cannot claim success. One of the accompaniments of poverty and food insecurity is the malnutrition and stunting of children. This is perhaps a tragedy too painful to be contemplated calmly, especially since the loss is irreversible, and deprives the country of the kind of person who was supposed to help in building the country. Instead of being a contributing hand in national development, malnourished and stunted individuals require lifetime care and prove a drag on growth. Economic stabilisation is all very well, but the real purpose of an economy, its people, must never be lost sight of.