Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri has said a strong and stable economy is vital to ensure social protection of the people. Addressing a conference regarding economy she called for corrective measures to stabilize economy to fulfill basic needs of the people. She said a strong economy is a source of strength for any nation. She said a weaker economy negatively impacts the life of the poor people.
The federal minister said that despite several interventions in the political system of Pakistan and the war against terrorism and extremism, we as a nation were strong enough to stand for our country and put it on the path of progress and stability.
Quoting the famous sayings, Shazia Marri said someone rightly said that “strong economy is a source of national strength”. “Economy is the start and end of everything and you cannot bring any reform unless you have a strong economy”, she said.
She said, “We are member of global comity. I am very happy to express gratitude to our international friends who always extended help to us in difficult times like disasters or calamities”.
Briefing about her ministry, Shazia Marri said that her ministry is working diligently to improve the socio-economic status of the poor. “All the shocks that economy has to face ultimately affect the living conditions of poor segments of the country the most”.
Mentioning the alarming indicators faced by the country, the minister said that Pakistan is ranked among 43 countries which are most exposed to poverty while 54 percent of its population is vulnerable to poverty due to health shocks.
She mentioned that around 52 million people in the country are living below poverty line while 30 percent of the households experience food insecurity so the whole state of economy impact the population of the country as well as poverty ratio.
The minister elaborated that Benazir Income Support Program, initiated in 2008, was the brain child of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
The program provides financial support and other facilities to the eight million families. The basic criterion of this program is to register the women member of the household for extending the benefits.
