Yesterday the government launched what it calls a first of its kind poverty alleviation programme where the idea is to place all existing institutions under one central body with the likes of BISP, Zakat department and others working under a single head. Taking one look at the track record and effectiveness of any one of these funds it is obvious that this is merely old wine in a new bottle. Given the precarious state of the economy with more money going out than coming in, the PTI simply cannot fund a genuinely original programme for poverty alleviation and have merely stamped their name onto this so-called new initiative. Rural areas are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to almost all aspects of service delivery. The PTI is offering nothing new while it is evident that policies of the past have been unable to bring about any significant change in poverty levels in the country.

Source: Pakistan Today February 17, 2019 07:30 UTC