ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said that 29.5 percent of the population was below poverty line, which translated to approximately 55 million people in the country.
In a written reply in the Senate, the minister said according to the latest available estimates based on 2013-14 data, this was down from 64.3% in 2000-01.
He said the government had taken various steps to reduce poverty and income inequality.
These measures included he added steering the economy to higher growth path and making economic growth more inclusive and sustained.
Similarly, the minister said the outreach of social safety nets was extended to over five million people which represented over 16 percent of the population, adding the amount of cash transfers under BISP to the poorest of the poor was increased from Rs 1.000/- per month in 2013 to Rs 1500/- per month in 2015.
In addition, he said the government reduced incidence of indirect taxation and broadened the base of income tax besides enhancing the allocations for PSDP to improve distributional mechanism.
Widening the access to quality services like endowment fund for education, upscaling nutrition was also included in these steps.
The minister said Prime Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme had been launched to extend the coverage of health services and added equality of opportunities for all segments of society had been ensured through merit based recruitment system.
He said skill development and self-employment schemes had been revamped through PM Youth Business loan initiatives besides reforming and strengthening institutions for better delivery of public services to people.
Source: APP
