Education sector needs to be prioritised as the quality of education has significant effect on GDP
HYDERABAD: Pakistan has once again failed to secure a good position on the Human Development Index (HDI) for the year 2018. It ranks at 150, with a per capita income (PCI) of $1,570, which is estimated to have become less than half due to weak governance, according to recent reports.
It has also been ranked second last amongst the SAARC countries. As per the World Bank report of 2018, about 80 per cent of Pakistan’s rural population lives below the poverty line. This has resulted in a rise in begging, crime and unemployment with a drop in living standards.
Consequently, these factors have paralysed the social and economic structure of society, leading to Pakistan’s low ranking on the HDI. In order to improve the situation, the government should take pragmatic measures to resolve these issues and invest more on human capital.
The education sector needs to be prioritised as the quality of education amongst citizens has a significant effect on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which affects the PCI. Countries that improve the quality and availability of education are able to increase their national economic production. At present, the condition of the education system is such that 48 per cent of fifth graders are unable to read or formulate a sentence in English. The government should seriously work to ensure quality and stability in the education sector.
Furthermore, approximately 60 per cent of the population lives in rural areas where not a single industry has been established to provide employment and alleviate poverty.
Overpopulation has also caused a strain on the country’s resources, as the number of consumers is constantly increasing. The government needs to address these issues by developing rural areas in order to equally distribute resources throughout the country.
The development of industries will also attract foreign direct investment into the country which will eventually increase the PCI and the GDP.
Ishaque Junejo
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2019.
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