Pension and Social Security Schemes in Pakistan: Some Policy Options

An examination of the public pension and social security schemes in Pakistan reveals that the provision of regular pensions is limited to formal sector employees only. A number of social security schemes that are operational in the public and private sectors cover a small proportion of old-age population, whereas a significant proportion of the elderly population working in the informal sector remains largely unprotected by social security schemes. As such, the challenge of meeting the needs of the increasing elderly population demands an improvement of the support base and social security system in Pakistan that emphasises the need to implement reforms of public pensions and programmes of social protection. Efficient deployment of resources and improvement of the governance structure are needed for effective welfare of the eligible sub-group of the elderly and the economically disadvantaged population.