For decades, Pakistan measured poverty through a simple question: how much money does a household earn or spend? While this approach provided useful insights into consumption patterns, it obscured a more uncomfortable reality. Poverty in Pakistan is no longer merely a shortage of income; it is a multidimensional crisis encompassing inadequate education, poor healthcare, deficient housing, digital exclusion and vulnerability to climate disasters.

The latest evidence paints a troubling picture. According to the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), nearly 38% of Pakistan's population lives in multidimensional poverty. Another 13% remains vulnerable to falling into poverty. These figures reveal a deeper developmental challenge than conventional income-based measures suggest. A household may live marginally above the official poverty line and still lack access to quality schooling, healthcare services, clean water, sanitation or digital connectivity.

The MPI demonstrates that poverty is not simply about what people earn; it is about what opportunities........

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