Federal govt sets poverty line at Rs8,483 monthly income

ISLAMABAD – The federal government on Friday introduced a new methodology for measuring poverty, setting the poverty threshold at a monthly income of Rs8,483 per person. Under the revised formula, individuals earning more than Rs8,483 per month will not be classified as poor. The new approach has drawn attention for its distinctive method of defining poverty levels and assessing household welfare. According to official estimates based on the updated calculation, 28.9 per cent of the country’s population currently falls below the poverty line. The revised poverty measurement is expected to play a key role in shaping social protection programmes, development planning and the allocation of resources aimed at supporting low-income households. Officials say the new formula provides a benchmark for evaluating living standards and identifying segments of the population most in need of government assistance. Budget 2026-27: Petrol prices in Pakistan likely to increase from July