The World Bank (WB) is planning to conduct a study about the performance of Rural Support Programs (RSPs) aimed at determining actual poverty situation in rural Pakistan and examine its effects on the community.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that the Bank has asked the Planning and Development Division that Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) should collaborate with the Bank in carrying out the study and launching the report on the performance of RSPs.
They said that the Bank has also discussed provision of support with PIDE in conducting the RSPs survey. However, PIDE being an autonomous body has shown interest in independent study, without any intervention by the Bank.
"The WB is keen to conduct a survey and launch report on RSPs working in the country. Since the RSPs are engaged in development projects, whose sole purpose is to reduce poverty in the rural and remote areas of the country, the report will be linked to efforts of the RSPs to alleviate poverty," they added.
Sources said that the study would examine whether the community infrastructure created under the program is of better quality, more cost effective and more sustainable than similar infrastructure created by government.
Its findings would contribute to a clearer understanding of how effective the social mobilisation aspect of the program is in empowering poor communities and facilitating collective action, they added.
They said that NWFP rural support program has already been closed while in Punjab the RSP is only partially operational. However, the WB report will determine the overall impact of all schemes executed by National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Agha Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and similar programs in other provinces.
Government claim of having reduced poverty in the country is always contradicted by independent observers and sometimes by the international financial institutions (IFIs). The government is claiming that poverty is on decline, but independent analysts' assertions are contrary to government claim.