Pakistan's measurement of the latest poverty figure under the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is planned to be ready by the end of 2027, and an action plan will be developed for incorporation of its results into the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Benazir Income Support Programme and provincial planning.
Addressing a high-level event titled "Pathways to a Poverty-Free Pakistan: Advancing Multidimensional Poverty Measurement for Evidence-Based Policy and Action," attended by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Director Professor Sabina Alkire, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal outlined a renewed national agenda to move beyond measuring poverty towards targeted public investment and sustainable poverty reduction.
The government has also decided to engage international donors, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and OPHI, for validation of poverty figures. "Pakistan will make MPI a recurring input to social investment and will not treat it as a report published every few years.
It will ensure evidence-based policymaking, and then investment will be diverted towards those areas having a concentration of poverty prevalence based on 2027 MPI results," the Ministry of Planning said in a presentation on poverty and the way forward at a session here on Tuesday.
Dwelling upon the future roadmap, it was outlined that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) would undertake the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) survey, and its data would be ready and available by April-June 2027. From July to December 2027, the poverty estimation would be accomplished, and its validation would be undertaken through engagement with international partners to ensure transparency and global standards.
The government emphasized that this shift is critical for the socio-economic uplift of marginalized communities. By identifying specific pockets of poverty, the state aims to optimize resource allocation, ensuring that funds reach the most deserving segments of society rather than being spread thinly across the board.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal noted that the integration of MPI into the PSDP will allow for a more granular approach to development. This strategy is expected to bridge the gap between policy formulation and ground-level implementation, fostering a more inclusive economic environment.
International partners have lauded this initiative, noting that Pakistan's commitment to data-driven governance is a positive step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Ministry of Planning concluded that the upcoming 2027 cycle will serve as a benchmark for future development projects, marking a departure from traditional methods of poverty assessment that often lacked the depth required for effective intervention.