Editorial
In recent years, Pakistan has seen a gradual expansion of social assistance programs aimed at helping vulnerable populations. The PPP, in particular, has been a strong proponent of such initiatives, introducing programs like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in 2008. The party’s 2024 election manifesto promises further schemes, such as subsidies for farmers and stipends for students. Additionally, the Sindh government launched the World Bank-funded Mother and Child Support programme, which provides cash to pregnant women and mothers to incentivize the use of maternal healthcare.
These developments align with global trends, as many low- and middle-income countries now run cash transfer programs. However, while these initiatives offer immediate relief, concerns about their long-term impact remain.
One key issue is the potential replacement of essential public services, like healthcare and education, with cash transfers. This shift may undermine efforts to create accessible and quality public services for the poor. Additionally, critics argue that cash transfers could foster dependency on the state, potentially turning citizens into passive recipients rather than active participants in society. Development expert Yamini Aiyar highlights this concern, pointing to the risks of creating a welfare system that expands political patronage rather than empowering citizens.
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Rights-based approaches, which emphasize accountability and transparency, could address these issues. Such approaches allow citizens to demand services from the state, ensuring that welfare programs are both effective and equitable. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s social protection schemes have not consistently followed this model. In Sindh, laws like the Home-Based Women Workers’ Act (2018) and the Agricultural Women Workers Act (2019) remain poorly implemented, failing to deliver on their promises of protection and support for informal sector workers.
For these programs to truly benefit Pakistan’s poor, the government must develop a clear policy for their implementation, prioritizing rights-based frameworks over temporary solutions.
