According to a UNDP report, in 2007-2008, Pakistan's poverty level was at 17.2 percent. The global economic downturn of recent years undermined the country's economic strength, and the recent catastrophic floods accentuated divisions in Pakistan between the wealthy and the poor. The Government recognises that poverty and lack of education have proved destabilizing factors for Pakistani society, which has been exploited by militant organizations running schools and providing services in under-governed areas. While the Government worked on macro solutions to the downturn in the economy, it also devised social programs to lessen the grip of poverty on the people.

Benazir Income Support Program - Gender bias and women's vulnerability in our social safety network has led to the creation of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to dispense cash assistance directly and regularly to needy women and their families. BISP started with an initial allocation of Rs.34 billion (USD$396 million) for the year 2008-2009, which almost doubled to Rs.70 billion (USD$816 million) in 2009-2010. It became the third-largest financial allocation in the total budget, accounting for 0.3 percent of the GDP for 2008-2009. Under the BISP component called Wasila-e-Haq, approximately 747 families are provided Rs.300,000 each through computerized draw. The families taking benefits under the program are supposed to return the money in 15 years without paying any additional markup. The money under Wasila-e-Haq component will be given to the women of the families, while their husbands/sons/brothers would launch a business venture. Smart Cards are also being issued for transparent and fast distribution of payment money. A Poverty Survey has been completed in 15 districts, and soon it will be expanded all over the country. The survey was commenced in December 2009 in 21 districts. Payments shall be made through "smart cards" in those districts where the survey has been completed. More than 318,000 IDPs from Swat and Malakand have been registered in BISP. More than 3,729 earthquake-hit families have also been included in the program. Visit BISP for the most up to date information on the program.

Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme - Pursuing its policy agenda of promoting social democracy that also gives social equity to the underprivileged, the Government has introduced Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS) to make workers stakeholders in their organizations' growth and development. Launched on 14 August 2009, BESOS empowers workers of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by offering them free ownership of 12% stocks in their organization. As of 2010, the scheme has been offered to more than 500,000 male and female workers of more than 80 SOEs across Pakistan.

National Education Policy 2009 - The PPP Government reactivated the policy formulation process in 2008. It made a point to consult the federating units on the policy through an Inter-Provincial Education Ministers' (IPEM) Meeting in February 2009. The final draft of the policy took important decisions regarding future direction of the education sector and was approved by the education ministers of all federating units. Implementation framework provided in the policy recognized the centrality of the federating units in implementation of the education policy. Other distinct features of the policy included:

• Introduction of Early Childhood Education (3-5 years) and encouraging inclusive and child- friendly education.
• Primary education official age shall be 6 to 10 years.
• Equity in Education (gender, geographical urban-rural areas) shall be promoted.
• Establishment of "Apna Ghar" residential schools in each province to provide free high quality education facilities to poor students.
• The definition of "free education" shall include all education-related costs.
• A system for donor harmonization for aid-effectiveness and improved coordination between development partners and Government shall be developed.
• Deeni Madaris shall be mainstreamed by introducing contemporary studies alongside standard religious texts.
• Teacher training arrangements, accreditation and certification procedures shall be standardized and institutionalized.
• Curriculum Wing of MoE and provincial textbook boards shall ensure elimination of all types of gender biases from textbooks. Adequate representation of females shall be ensured in all curriculum and textbooks review committees.

President's Education Sector Reform Project - Project Management Unit of MoE has started a project to provide missing facilities under President's Education Sector Reform (PESR) Project. The Following progress has been made since 2008:

• Establishment of 26 cadet
• Establishment of Gwadar Institute of Technology Gwadar, Balochistan.
• Establishment of Federal Government College of Home Economics at Islamabad
• Establishment and Operation of Basic Education Community schools.
• Establishment of Govt. Polytechnic Institute at Pishin, Qilla Saifullah, Turbat and Gilgit.
• An amount of Rs.50.3 million was distributed among 288 deeni madaris for salaries of their teachers under a reforms project. Dozens of madaris were monitored and evaluated and steps were taken to bring them in the mainstream.
• During 2009-2010, 22 new district offices, including three in Gilgit-Baltistan, were established and over 1,000 Social Action Program (SAP) schools were adopted in Gilgit-Baltistan. A field survey is in progress to open 4,200 new Basic Education Community Schools across the country. The Government has approved a three-year scheme at a cost of Rs.121.691 million to build community school buildings in AJK in place of dozens of schools destroyed by the massive earthquake in the region in 2005. During 2008-2009, three school buildings were completed while construction of 17 schools is nearing completion in AJK.
• The Government has increased scholarships for Masters and Doctorate Programs to $300 and $400 per month.