The Government of Pakistan recognised that high GDP growth rates alone would not be sufficient to reduce poverty, and that appropriate social policy measures were required to ensure that growth is pro-poor.
Pakistan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and Medium Term Development Framework both placed emphasis on strengthening instruments of social protection to help address vulnerability and chronic poverty and help poor people better manage risks. There was also recognition by the Government of Pakistan (GoP) that a good social protection system promotes greater national security and social cohesion.
The objective of this work was to assist the GoP with developing a national social protection strategy, involving public and private initiatives that can contribute, both directly and indirectly, to growth, poverty reduction and human security in Pakistan. The report, written with Dr. Faisal Bari, also provided a list of key recommendations, priorities and funding options for GoP consideration.