D3 - Social Protection in Pakistan: Need, Coverage, Legislative Status, Challenges &Way Forward
- The government must consider social security every citizen’s right.
- The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the urgency and importance of ensuring that workers in all forms of employment (including those in the informal economy) have adequate social protection coverage, which should be adapted to their circumstances and in line with international labour standards.
- Social protection policies in Pakistan need to be transformative in nature with more focus on social security and social insurance.
- Social protection needs are not uniform across Pakistan; hence, social protection interventions must vary from region to region.
- The social protection system in Pakistan needs to be decentralised with an enhanced role of provincial institutions.
- Structural reforms, universal healthcare coverage and in-kind provisions must be considered for a robust social protection system in Pakistan.
- A health insurance scheme based on the principle of social solidarity through microfinance and public private partnerships can be used to inject resources into the health system.
- The government needs to introduce reforms in social protection and labour welfare institutions by amending laws, particularly payment of wages and unemployment/health benefits.
