Punjab falls short on MDGs targets
MDGs are internationally recognised goals adopted by the countries and are aimed at addressing extreme poverty rates
According to the United Nations Multidimensional Poverty Index, about half of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Despite being the most populous and developed part of the country, Punjab is failing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the documents of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and the Ministry of Finance.
The MDGs are internationally recognised goals adopted by the countries and are aimed at addressing extreme poverty rates and hunger, ensuring universal primary education, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing global partnership for development. The MDG targets were adopted from the Millennium Declaration signed by 189 countries, including 147 heads of state and governments in September 2000. The MDGs have officially ended in 2015 and work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been started internationally, but MDGs acceleration framework will continue until 2018.
‘Development linked to diversity’
According to the documents and statistics of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and the Ministry of Finance, Pakistan had adopted 16 targets and 41 indicators which would gauge progress for achieving the eight goals of the MDGs. According to the documents, Pakistan’s progress in the overall 24 indicators was way off track and it was only able to achieve four targets. According to the documents, Pakistan’s performance on MDGs seen in the regional context, remained less satisfactory as compared to other countries.
According to the documents, Punjab was off track in 2 out of the 3 indicators to end poverty and hunger and there was no data available for the third. On achieving universal primary education, Punjab was off track in 2 of the 3 indicators and on track on just 1. Punjab was able to perform well on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment and all 4 indicators were on track, better than other provinces. In the goal to reduce child mortality, Punjab was off track on 3 indicators, on track on 1 and had achieved 1 of the indicators. On improving maternal health, Punjab was found to be off track in all 5 of the indicators.
Six-Day Visit :‘Thar needs special development’
On goals combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases there was no data available for Punjab, however, according to the statistics, Pakistan was off track in 2 out of 5, on track on 1 and achieved 1. Similarly, on ensuring environmental sustainability, there was also no data available for provinces, but nationally, Pakistan was off track on 2 and on track on 4 of the 6 total indicators. According to the documents, Punjab spent Rs288.8 billion in 2012-13, Rs321.2 billion in 2013-14, Rs357.2 billion in 2014-15, Rs417.8 billion in 2015-16 and Rs207.9 billion for until December 2016. Punjab had spent a total of around Rs1.59 trillion to achieving the MGDs up till December 2016.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2017.
Despite being the most populous and developed part of the country, Punjab is failing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the documents of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and the Ministry of Finance.
The MDGs are internationally recognised goals adopted by the countries and are aimed at addressing extreme poverty rates and hunger, ensuring universal primary education, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing global partnership for development. The MDG targets were adopted from the Millennium Declaration signed by 189 countries, including 147 heads of state and governments in September 2000. The MDGs have officially ended in 2015 and work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been started internationally, but MDGs acceleration framework will continue until 2018.
‘Development linked to diversity’
According to the documents and statistics of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and the Ministry of Finance, Pakistan had adopted 16 targets and 41 indicators which would gauge progress for achieving the eight goals of the MDGs. According to the documents, Pakistan’s progress in the overall 24 indicators was way off track and it was only able to achieve four targets. According to the documents, Pakistan’s performance on MDGs seen in the regional context, remained less satisfactory as compared to other countries.
According to the documents, Punjab was off track in 2 out of the 3 indicators to end poverty and hunger and there was no data available for the third. On achieving universal primary education, Punjab was off track in 2 of the 3 indicators and on track on just 1. Punjab was able to perform well on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment and all 4 indicators were on track, better than other provinces. In the goal to reduce child mortality, Punjab was off track on 3 indicators, on track on 1 and had achieved 1 of the indicators. On improving maternal health, Punjab was found to be off track in all 5 of the indicators.
Six-Day Visit :‘Thar needs special development’
On goals combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases there was no data available for Punjab, however, according to the statistics, Pakistan was off track in 2 out of 5, on track on 1 and achieved 1. Similarly, on ensuring environmental sustainability, there was also no data available for provinces, but nationally, Pakistan was off track on 2 and on track on 4 of the 6 total indicators. According to the documents, Punjab spent Rs288.8 billion in 2012-13, Rs321.2 billion in 2013-14, Rs357.2 billion in 2014-15, Rs417.8 billion in 2015-16 and Rs207.9 billion for until December 2016. Punjab had spent a total of around Rs1.59 trillion to achieving the MGDs up till December 2016.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2017.