PERSISTENTLY high inflation in Pakistan is eroding the purchasing power of the poorest, limiting access to basic facilities. The World Bank estimates that poverty will remain around 40 per cent, with 10 million people at risk of falling below the poverty line due to potential economic shocks. Despite this, social protection programmes receive minimal attention, with Pakistan allocating less than one per cent of GDP to social assistance, thus offering little relief to the poor.
With the government’s limited fiscal space and competing priorities, it is clear that investment in social sectors is likely to remain low. Therefore, the government must focus on creating a conducive environment for social delivery organisations (SDOs) to step in and address these gaps.
The Doing Good Index of the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society examines the regulatory and societal environment in which private capital is directed towards philanthropy. It ranks countries in four categories based on its findings: ‘doing well’, ‘doing better’, ‘doing okay’, and ‘not doing enough’ (from best to worst). According to the DGI 2024 report, which surveyed 122 SDOs in Pakistan through the SDPI, the country is classified as ‘doing okay’, indicating........