Rising poverty in Pakistan highlights the need for sustained investment in education, healthcare, skills development and human capital to help vulnerable communities achieve lasting economic independence, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said Tuesday at the opening of a two-day international conference on poverty alleviation organised by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF).
Representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Mr Iqbal said poverty was not merely a lack of income but also reflected unequal access to opportunities and essential services. He called for greater investment in human development, the empowerment of women and young people, and targeted support for less-developed regions, particularly Balochistan.
Poverty alleviation and social safety minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said lasting poverty reduction required connecting social protection with livelihood opportunities, vocational training, access to finance and markets, and measures to withstand economic and climate-related shocks. The minister highlighted the role of the Benazir Income Support Programme, PPAF and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal in supporting vulnerable households and helping them achieve economic independence through coordinated policy frameworks and targeted interventions across all four provinces.
Information minister Attaullah Tarar praised PPAF's efforts to reduce poverty and improve the economic prospects of disadvantaged communities. He emphasised the importance of grassroots initiatives that create practical livelihood opportunities, enabling people to establish businesses, improve living standards and become economically self-reliant.
National heritage and culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said Pakistan's economic progress depended on bringing marginalised communities into the mainstream of development and turning their skills and potential into productive opportunities. PPAF officials stated that bridging regional disparities requires comprehensive economic strategies, infrastructural improvements, and sustained public-private partnerships focused on remote and underserved areas.
Experts at the conference deliberated on innovative financing models, green jobs, and climate-resilient livelihoods as crucial components for future development policies in Pakistan. The concluding sessions of the conference focused on actionable policy recommendations, stakeholder collaboration, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparent execution of poverty alleviation programs.
During the event, PPAF also presented Media Excellence Awards to media representatives from different organisations, including Jamila Achakzai, in recognition of their outstanding reporting on social development and grassroots economic issues.