Over 50 pc Pakistanis living below poverty line :EAC

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of Economic Advisory Council (EAC) held on Saturday with Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in the chair discussed all aspects of national economy.

The meeting conceded that more than half of the country’s population was living below the poverty line.

The meeting decided that any individual earning less than Rs200 or 2 US dollar daily would be considered as poor.

The EAC meeting also discussed an increase in the salaries of government employees from July. Any decision in this regard would be taken before the budget.

EU to give Rs10 billion for poverty reduction in Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has appreciated the offer of Rs 10 billion by European Union (EU) for extending Sindh Union Council Based Poverty Reduction Programme (SUCBPR) from 12 Sindh districts to all.
The offer was given by the EU delegation during a meeting with the chief minister here on Friday.
Matters relating to Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) also came under discussion.
According to proposed 5-year plan for extending the (SUCBPR) Programme which initially started in Shikarpur and Kashmore in 2011 through Sindh Social Relief Fund and later on extended up to 12 districts including Jacobabad and Tharparkar, Sindh Government would have to bear Rs. 17 billion more to execute it in entire Sindh province.
The chief minister appreciated the interest shown by the European Union for empowerment of women folk and social development in the province.
He was of the view that empowerment of women, eradication of poverty, providing employment and over all development were the main objectives of his government.
He asked the Additional Chief Secretary Development and Secretary Finance to co-ordinate, examine and evaluate the feasibility report of the plan and submit to him with their recommendation so that these could be included in the future development porgamme.