ECONOMIC SURVEY 2026-27: Poverty surges 7pc, pushing 27m people into financial distress

Pakistan's national poverty rate increased by 7% between 2018-19 and 2024-25, adding 27 million people to the impoverished population, now totaling 70 million. Rural poverty rose from 28.2% to 36.2%, while urban poverty increased from 11% to 17.4%. Provincial poverty rates varied, with Balochistan recording the highest at 47% in 2024-25. Factors like inflation, currency depreciation, IMF policies, floods, and the Middle East conflict contributed to the surge. Inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, rose from 28.4 to 32.7 nationally.