Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $350 million programme to strengthen the insurance sector in Pakistan, expand financial protection and reduce the impact of climate and economic risks.
According to the ADB announcement, the “Insurance Transformation Program” aims to increase insurance coverage in the country, reduce the existing protection gap and promote private sector participation to pave the way for sustainable economic growth.
According to the bank, Pakistan is facing multiple challenges such as climate change, natural disasters and economic uncertainty, while access to insurance is still limited. In the current situation, household consumers, businesses, farmers and government finances are deprived of adequate financial protection against various risks.
The announcement said that this program will help strengthen Pakistan’s fiscal resilience and help reduce financial losses during extreme weather events, floods, natural disasters and other unforeseen risks.
According to ADB, the reforms will reduce financial vulnerabilities, accelerate recovery after crises and reduce pressure on government finances. The program will support the transition of the insurance sector from a traditional rules-based system to a modern risk-based and market-based framework.
According to experts, insurance penetration in Pakistan is only 0.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which is considered a very low level compared to many countries in the region. This is why a large number of households and businesses face difficulties during financial shocks.
ADB said that the reforms will stimulate long-term investment and help establish a more inclusive, stable and robust insurance market. Along with this, financial arrangements will also be improved to deal with natural disasters.
According to the announcement, the introduction of special insurance products for farmers, women, vulnerable groups and low-income households will be encouraged so that more people can get financial security.
Economic experts say that if these reforms are implemented effectively, not only will the insurance sector grow but it will also help the country’s economy in long-term stability, investment and promotion of employment opportunities.
