Pakistan’s poverty rate has surged to 43.5% according to the Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC), significantly exceeding official estimates of 28.9% from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The report reveals 27 million more people fell below the poverty line between 2018-19 and 2024-25.
Urban vs Rural Disparities
Urban poverty jumped from 32.1% to 42.1%, outpacing rural areas where it rose from 39.3% to 44.3%. Cities face sharper declines due to higher living costs not captured in official Consumer Price Index adjustments.
Methodological Clash
SPDC’s Food Energy Intake approach sets poverty lines at PKR 13,476 (urban) and PKR 10,283 (rural) monthly, versus official PKR 8,484. This caloric method better reflects low-income household realities where food consumes over 50% of income.
Economic Warning Signs
Rising income inequality compounds the crisis, with wealth concentrating among urban elites. The findings challenge government narratives amid IMF bailout pressures and currency devaluation.
