ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted its latest ‘Thought Leaders Forum’ under the theme, “Poverty Alleviation and the Role of Rural Support Program,” on Tuesday. Chairman National Rural Support Program, Shoaib Sultan Khan, attended the event as the distinguished speaker.
In her welcome remarks, Director of the Centre for Strategic Perspectives Dr. Neelum Nigar said that under the TLF, ISSI acknowledges and pays tribute to individuals esteemed as authoritative voices in specific fields. These people have played an important role in shaping perspectives, influencing decisions, and driving innovation within their respective sectors in Pakistan.
She said that Shoaib Sultan Khan stood as a testament to this spirit of thought leadership, and ISSI was privileged to have him share his insights on this platform.
DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood paid glowing tributes to Shoaib Sultan Khan’s vision, transformational leadership, and great contribution to efforts for poverty reduction in the country as well as the region, including India, through community participation.
He said that Shoaib Sultan’s life-long work had made a difference in the lives of millions and was duly recognized in Pakistan and globally.
Pakistan’s Efforts to Address Poverty
He added that Pakistan has made major strides in reducing absolute poverty, with rates dropping from 61.6 percent in 1998-99 to 21.5 percent in 2021-22. However, multidimensional poverty remains high at 39 percent, underlining deprivation in health, education, and standard of living.
He said that recent events, including the floods and COVID-19 pandemic, have exacerbated these challenges, especially affecting rural communities where necessities are scarce. Shoaib Sultan Khan has been instrumental in addressing challenges and developing rural communities, especially through his leadership in the Rural Support Programme. Since 1982, he has played a transformative role in different impactful programs across Pakistan, India, and South Asia, positively impacting millions of lives.
Shoaib Sultan Khan, while shedding light on poverty alleviation and the role of rural support programs, stressed that Pakistan’s rural support programs were among the oldest in the region. These programs were widely acknowledged for their success and had served as a model and inspiration for similar initiatives in South Asia, including India.
He asserted that the pursuit of poverty elimination should be a shared political agenda, serving as a unifying force rather than a source of division within regions.
He added that it is a shared goal that has the potential to foster solidarity and collaboration across diverse geographical areas, emphasizing the collective responsibility to address and eliminate socio-economic disparities.
Shoaib Sultan Khan further elucidated different factors that contribute to the success of such programs, including long-term political commitment, political support, and ownership, poverty eradication as a common political agenda, sustained governmental support, innovation and adaptation, institutional development, and participation of women.
