Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation Pir Syed Imran Ahmed Shah announced that the government is seeking provincial cooperation to establish a unified national framework for poverty reduction. During a press briefing in Islamabad, the minister stated that three provinces have already expressed support for the initiative, which aims to enhance coordination and potentially cut program costs by 75%. He clarified that the federal government respects provincial autonomy and does not intend to exert direct oversight. Additionally, the minister voiced strong disagreement with the World Bank regarding its classification of Pakistan within the Middle East and North Africa region, arguing that it should be categorized under South Asia. He also challenged the bank's recent poverty data for the country. To further discuss these goals, an international summit themed "From Poverty to Prosperity" is scheduled to take place in Islamabad.
Source : The Express Tribune
Photo : The Express Tribune
