Poverty in Pakistan has surged, with 44.7 per cent of the population now living below the poverty line, as the military continues to dominate the nation’s economy. According to media reports, despite a worsening financial crisis and reliance on IMF loans, defence spending rose by 20 per cent, while allocations for health, education, and job-creating sectors were slashed by around 7 per cent. Experts blame military interference and policy instability for Pakistan’s declining per capita income, which fell from 1,766 dollars to 1,568 dollars in 2023.
Meanwhile, in another development, tensions are escalating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as Islamabad tightens control over the regions’ vast mineral wealth. Despite the 18th Amendment granting joint ownership of resources, provinces allege systematic exploitation and federal overreach. Balochistan, rich in copper, gold, and coal, remains impoverished, while KP sees little reinvestment from its marble and gemstone riches.
