What do development indicators tell us about the poverty in KP, FATA and Balochistan?
Development outcomes in KP, FATA and Balochistan are far worse than for the rest of Pakistan. The Bank’s NWFP Economic Report (2005) observed that the province’s estimated per capita GDP in 2002/03 was only 60% of the average for the country, a clear indication of widespread poverty, particularly in its rural areas. The province’s performance in education and health also remained below the national average. Balochistan is also a lagging region with the weakest long-term growth performance of all provinces and a 2004 per capita income level of only two-thirds of Pakistan’s overall level. It also stands out as the province with the worst record on gender equality. Similarly, FATA is among the poorest regions in the country, with about 60% of the population below the poverty line, according to Government estimates.
