Declining middle class in Pakistan: 2009-2013

The launch of the Pakistan economic scorecard for the fiscal year 2013-2014, organized by the Institute for Policy Reforms, indicated a shrinking middle class.

The middle class has never been large in Pakistan. The largest percentage of middle class citizens, at 45%, occurred from 2001-2008. It is now 35% of the population says the Institute for Policy Reforms (The International News, November 21, 2014).

Where are people in the middle class going? Not up to the upper class, but downwards. Around three million Pakistanis each year from 2009 moved to the lower class – and towards poverty – although unemployment remained stable at around 10%.

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