Social protection framework: Governance issues constitute major impediments

The government has admitted that governance issues in the form of weak institution mechanism and lack of political will as major issues in social protection strategy. Sources said that Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms in its national social protection policy framework explained why marginalization has been occurring in Pakistan and what is way forward along with issues.
Sources added that fragmentation of social protection initiatives as well as inefficient and ineffective financial & accounting arrangements and duplication of beneficiaries were also identified as challenges in social protection. Moreover, lack of reporting mechanisms and roles and responsibilities after devolution have also become hindrances. They added that with the devaluation, social protection has become major responsibility of provinces and Punjab and provinces are in the process of establishing social protection authority as well as policies. The ministry has been engaged with the provinces to ensure harmonization of their policies with country's national social protection framework.
The government acknowledges that older people face an array of vulnerabilities like lack of income, health security and need for physical care. Although, formal sector has some social protection mechanism but older people in the informal sector are vulnerable as there is no mechanism to provide assistance. The share of informal sector in non-agriculture sector employment is over 70 percent, which reflects seriousness of the problems.
The Ministry's under the vision 2025, develop a national social protection framework to harmonise federal, provincial and district level policies and programs to remove regional disparities as well as clarify the roles and responsibilities of respective governments. The framework will develop a range of strategies including prevention, mitigation and coping mechanisms for managing risk and vulnerability. The agreed framework will take a multidimensional approach to social protection.
The included areas are; (i) the development of a broad shared conceptual understanding of social protection; (ii) Strengthened strategic thinking and measures to promote social security; and (iii) The assessment and strengthening of existing formal and informal mechanisms used by poor households to manage risk. The planned framework promises that vulnerable segments will be protected and encouraged by revamping and expanding the social protection system and social safety nets to ensure their rights and make them socially and economically protective.