The Poverty Illusion: When Numbers Distort Reality

By Nasir Iqbal Published in pide.org.pk Publication Year : 2025 Last week, sensational headlines rattled Pakistan’s development discourse: poverty has surged, nearly half the population is now classified as poor, and extreme poverty has tripled. According to the World Bank’s revised estimates, poverty under the $4.20 per day line has jumped from 39.8% to 44.7%, while extreme […]

16

Jun

Dashed hopes

By Rashid Amjad Published in Dawn on June 15, 2025 WITH the real economy in a deep slump and macroeconomic indicators stable, how should we describe the current state of the economy and the direction in which we are heading? According to the just released Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, whatever spin you may want to give it,[…]

10

Jun

PAKISTANI STUDENTS AND THE ‘AMERICAN DREAM’

By Anmol Irfan Published in Dawn on June 06, 2025 Shayan* and his wife Aliya* spent the last couple of months preparing their travel plans, which included a potential Haj trip after a visit back home to their families in Pakistan. At least, this was the plan up until the end of March. Shayan, a PhD student[…]