Comparing Formal and Informal Social Protection: Exploring the Usefulness of Informal Social Protection in Pakistan

The chapter provides a brief overview of social protection in Pakistan. It then compares formal and informal social protection to answer the first research question: “Do poor and vulnerable households in a lower-income country such as Pakistan consider informal social protection received from madrassas more useful than formal social protection, and if so, why?” Three components of formal and informal social protection are compared to determine the usefulness of the informal social protection provided by madrassas from a household perspective. The last part of the chapter presents the limitations, conclusions, and some policy implications.