Pakistan
Publications
Situation and Priorities
Social protection situation
The first quarter of 2021 saw a political change in Pakistan. This change also resulted into change in priorities. However, with respect to social protection, the budget allocation increased by 45 % in 2022 (from $1,120 mn in 2021 to $ 1,625 mn in 2022).
After the launch of Ehsaas (Compassion), national poverty alleviation programme, in 2019 several provinces carried forward the work on social protection focusing on the policy direction provided by Ehsaas. In the spirit of universalising social protection and reaching out to the excluded, 2021 marked the roll out of several initiatives to extend social protection to workers in the informal economy, domestic workers, agriculture workers, home based workers, sanitation workers and street vendors. The range of measures taken include policy initiatives, establishment of endowments funds to create fiscal space, awareness raising, registration, financial inclusion, and training in e-commerce.
The establishment of Social Security Coordination Forum by the Government of Pakistan with the intention to pursue USP 2030 has advanced the deliberation on reviewing existing social security prorgrammes for expansion, improved governance, creating fiscal space and borrowing of best practices across the provinces. The SSCF is positioned to pursue the vision of the Global Accelerator.
COVID-19 and other crises
Pakistan has faced the challenges of cascading crises, Covid followed by economic instability and the more recent floods of June 2022. The climate induced calamity hit around 84 districts in Pakistan were inundated by the monsoon floods that resulted into an unprecedented loss to human lives, livestock, infrastructure, assets, and livelihoods pushing additional 9 million people into poverty. Around 4.3 million people were affected by loss or disruption of employment and jobs, with significant of them in agriculture sector. The social protection response to the floods as part of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment includes a comprehensive set of initiatives to address the vulnerabilities of those left furthest behind but also calls for shock responsive Social Protection policies and programmes. The Government quickly responded through cash assistance of Rs25,000 provided to over a million beneficiaries disbursing around Rs24 billion from Benazir Income Support Programme. The Recovery Framework developed by the Government highlights the needs to be around $1.6 bn for social protection initiatives.
Government and social partner priorities
In the wake of recurrent crises, the government prioritises:
- Increase in social protection spending by the government;
- Enhanced scope and coverage of safety nets;
- Strong focus on governance of institutions implementing social protection programmes;
- Development of a Universal national registry for workers and employers for coordinated coverage and implementation of social protection programmes;
- System building for efficiency and integrity; and
- Service delivery through One-Window Operations specially integrating crisis response
ILO Projects and Programmes
-
Promotion of Decent Work Opportunities for the economic empowerment of vulnerable segments of society
01.01.2019 - 10.06.2025 USD 1 706 485 Italy
Results
In 2019, the ILO and UN agencies provided technical inputs for the National Poverty Alleviation policy. The ILO advocated for an integrated social protection framework and facilitated the inclusion of the private sector within the policy through its tripartite links and coordinating role in the national business network on social protection. The policy was launched by the Government in March 2019, and resulted in the creation of the Ehsaas umbrella programme.
The ILO has also been active in pushing for the extension of social protection to the informal economy through labour legislation. Agriculture workers, fishermen, and domestic workers now have partial legal coverage, be it at national or province level.
-
(1) The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) adopted a Social Protection Policy on 5 December 2022 which it launched on 21 March 2023.
The policy is also used to inform the financial year budget for 2022-23. The Policy in KP features a life cycle appr...
2022 PAK226
-
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa extended social security coverage to construction workers and to workers earning 60% higher than the minimum wage
2021 PAK226
-
The Mazdoor Ka EHSAAS programme to promote social protection for informal economy workers was launched
2021 PAK226
-
The Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) has adopted a modern digital information management system
2021 PAK226
-
The Government of Pakistan established the first tripartite 'Social Security Coordination Forum'
2020 PAK226
-
A Universal Health Care programme was launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
2020 PAK226
Funding gaps / Support the ILO
US$ 17 000 000
Active labour market response to floods through design of unemployment benefit scheme (Employment Services)