he International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed on October 17. Poverty is not just a statistic in Pakistan; it’s an entrenched reality for millions of its people.

More than 58.7 million people in Pakistan are living below the poverty line. The issue is therefore far from abstract. It’s deeply rooted in our social, economic and environmental frameworks. Poverty is more than a lack of resources. It is often intertwined with systemic issues of inequality, marginalisation and inertia where upward mobility is elusive.

According to Amnesty International, “Poverty in Pakistan is not merely an economic challenge; it is a human rights crisis affecting millions, denying them access to essential services such as education, healthcare and adequate housing. Systemic inequality and lack of government accountability exacerbate this situation, perpetuating a cycle of deprivation that is difficult to escape.”

This perspective highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive approach that integrates human rights advocacy with sustainable development efforts, ensuring that marginalised communities are empowered and included in decision-making processes.

Living near an informal settlement in Islamabad, I am aware that poverty isn’t an abstract concept.

The contrast between the gleaming affluence of the posh areas in the city and the grim reality in squatter settlements and is stark. What strikes me most is not the lack of infrastructure — sanitation, water supply, or schooling — but the deep sense of disempowerment that blankets the slum dwellers like a heavy fog.

These people do not have to battle only economic hardship; they are trapped in a cycle of exclusion, stripped of the recognition of rights that should enable them to break free. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the vaccination drive left entire communities in the lurch because they lacked national identity cards. It wasn’t just a health crisis; it was a human rights issue.

It’s not just about income but access to education and employment. The exclusion from the formal sector deepens mistrust in institutions and creates a sense of isolation.

This situation is not unique to Islamabad’s slums. A “culture of poverty” exists across the country. It refers to poverty so ingrained in people’s reality that it shapes their perceptions and expectations of life. The cultural inertia makes it difficult for communities to adopt sustainable development practices or take advantage of economic opportunities when they arise. When survival is your only priority, long-term development seems like a luxury you can’t afford. This mindset keeps many people locked in a vicious cycle.

Poverty eradication requires more than mere policy making. It needs a fundamental shift in how authorities approach the issue. It’s not enough to focus on financial interventions or offer temporary assistance. We need to dismantle the systems of exclusion that keep whole communities marginalised.

When people lack access even to basic rights, sustainable development sounds like a remote ideal. No matter how many well-intentioned policies there are on paper, they won’t make a difference unless the community is empowered to be a part of the solution. Sustainable practices like solid waste management and access to safe drinking water access could improve living conditions.

This raises a critical question: how do we reconcile the immediate needs of survival with the long-term goals of sustainability? How can we ask people to care about clean energy or waste management when they don’t even have reliable access to food and water? The answer lies in addressing the root causes of poverty first.

Only by ensuring that communities have access to basic resources can we encourage them to adopt sustainable practices. Poverty and sustainable development may seem non-complementary at first glance, but they are mutually exclusive.

Sustainable development can only take root if we focus on empowering marginalised communities through education, health, infrastructure and inclusion in decision-making processes.

There are also glaring gaps in accountability and governance systems dealing with our poverty eradication strategies. Laws are passed but they mean nothing without enforcement. Decades after having settled in urban slums, people are still denied basic rights.

There’s a huge gulf between on-paper policy and on-ground reality. This gap fuels the deep grassroots distrust of state institutions. The poor been let down too often to readily trust whatever they are told.

As we mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we need to rethink our approach to poverty. We must recognise that poverty is not just a lack of resources but a deprivation of the capabilities necessary for individuals to lead fulfilling lives. Our strategies need to reflect this recognition.

We can no longer afford to rely on short-term fixes. What’s needed is systemic, long-term change that addresses the root causes of poverty and empowers the poorest of the poor to be a part of the solution, realize their potential and thrive.

The fight against poverty isn’t a battle that can be won overnight. But if we focus on building sustainable pathways, ensuring that marginalised communities have the tools to rise out of poverty, we can start breaking the cycle.

It’s not about charity or aid. It’s about creating a just, equitable society where everyone, not just a few, can flourish. This is the future we must work towards. It’s a future that can start now.

The writer is a policy analyst and researcher with a master’s degree in public policy from King’s College, London