Poverty in Pakistan is at an 11-year high and income inequality is at a 27-year high. About 7 crore people are affected and unemployment has also increased. Amidst this economic crisis, Punjab CM’s purchase of an aircraft worth ₹380 crore has created a controversy.
karachi: The economic condition of Pakistan, which runs on the support of anti-India and fundamentalism, has completely collapsed. The state of poverty in the country is such that it has broken the record of the last 11 years. At the same time, the gap between rich and poor i.e. income inequality has reached the highest level in 27 years. This disclosure has been made by none other than Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal himself. Pakistan’s economy is going through a very bad phase, passing the day by taking loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). About 7 crore people are facing poverty in the country.
According to the data, the country’s poverty rate has increased to 28.9% in the financial year 2024-25, which was 21.9% in 2019. This is the first time since 2014 that poverty has reached this level. In 2014 it was 29.5%. Furthermore, income inequality has also increased from 29.5% to 32.7%. This is the largest figure after 1998.
Along with this, the unemployment rate has also reached its highest level in 21 years, i.e. 7.1%. Poverty in villages has increased from 28.2% to 36.2%, while urban poverty has increased from 11% to 17.4%. The situation is even worse in violence-hit Balochistan, where the poverty rate has increased from 42% to 47%. Due to the conditions of taking loan from IMF, the government has to take strict steps like ending subsidies. Natural disasters and weak economic growth have also increased unemployment, poverty and inequality in the country.
Nawaz’s daughter bought a plane worth ₹380 crore, created an uproar
Lahore: On one hand, Pakistan is facing its worst poverty in 11 years, while on the other hand, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has bought a luxurious plane worth Rs 380 crore. A big controversy has arisen after this news came out.
New Gulfstream GVII G500 aircraft
The Government of Punjab has purchased a new Gulfstream GVII G500 aircraft manufactured in 2019. It has 19 seats. Its price in Pakistani rupees is estimated at Rs 1,170 crore (about Rs 380 crore in India). Imran Khan’s party PTI has attacked Maryam Nawaz regarding this expensive purchase amidst the poor economic condition of the country. PTI has alleged that this is a waste of public money.