Pakistan, June 6 -- ISLAMABAD - Poverty in Pakistan has worsened significantly, with 44.7% of the population now living below the poverty line, according to a recent World Bank report. This marks a steep rise from 39.8%, reflecting the economic strain facing millions of households.

The World Bank revised its poverty benchmark for lower-middle-income countries to $4.20 per person per day, up from the previous $3.65. Based on this new standard, an estimated 90 to 95 million Pakistanis are living in poverty. The report also highlights that 16.5% of the population earns less than $3 per day, placing them in the extreme poverty category.

According to the report, Pakistan's middle-income class is also shrinking, with 88.4% of the population e...