EXPLORING THE INCIDENCE AND CORRELATES OF RURAL POVERTY IN PAKISTAN

The study seeks to measure incidence of poverty and explore correlates of rural poverty in district Bhakkar - Pakistan. The study employed the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) class of decomposable poverty measure as an analytical tool to decompose poverty against various household groups and their characteristics. Analysis of data collected from 300 households showed that household size, dependency ratio, gender, age and educational attainments of household head, female-male ratio, participation rate, landholding size and ownership of livestock and physical assets were found to be correlated with the household poverty status. Poverty headcount, gap and severity indices in the area worked out to be 64%, 31% and 19% respectively. The results were consistent with findings of the literature. The study suggests investment on socio-economic conditions as a remedy to reduce poverty.