ISLAMABAD: National poverty rate has surged by seven per cent, pushing approximately 27 million additional people into financial distress over the last six years and bringing the total number of the impoverished population of the country to 70m, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 . The survey figures show that poverty was 21.9pc in 2018-19 which increased to 28.9pc in 2024-25. Poverty remained significantly higher in rural areas.