
Strategies for the Alleviation of Poverty
Haseeb Sarwar has done BS (hons) Economics from Government College University Lahore. He has previously qualified Planning Officer, AD Industries, District Population Officer, Tehsildar BPSC
Despite rise in global wealth and transformative, innovative inventions, poverty still persists. Rooted in a number of causes such as resource mismanagement, ill-conceived policies of governments, and unequal distribution of opportunities, poverty is a multidimensional problem that only exacerbates inequalities and social evils. Therefore, there is no single solution to root out this curse completely. A multifaceted framework is required. Firstly, the government should provide quality education and adequate employment opportunities. Quality education is the path toward upward mobility and increased employability. Aligning national policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is equally important, as these goals are interconnected, and working on one goal will have impact on others. In addition, social support programs such as the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) can help alleviate poverty to a great extent. Women empowerment is also necessary. Above all, the government must show political will and set aside vested interests. As Nelson Mandela said, “As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” Therefore, eradicating poverty is not only a moral obligation but also economically vital.

