Development initiative
The devastation wreaked by the super floods earlier on in the year shed light on the long-ignored reality that some parts of the country are faced with disproportionately high levels of economic deprivation and poverty. In response to this, the federal government has finally launched the first-of-its-kind development project to uplift the poorest districts of the country and address economic disparities. Based on the Multidimensional Poverty Index scores, the selected 20 districts include 11 from Balochistan, five from Sindh, three from K-P and one from Punjab.
Spanning five years, the project will target different developmental aspects ranging from the development of agri-livestock and mineral value chains to investments in skill development and scholarship for students. Along with identifying the local needs through in-depth assessments, the federal and provincial governments must consult and include local populations to offer tailored and effective solutions. Improved connectivity through roads and access to internet broadband services would play a crucial role in bridging the gap amongst different socio-economic groups and providing access to educational and employment opportunities. To ensure long-term progress, the government should encourage educational institutes and public and private organisations to have fixed quotas for candidates from different regions.
The decades-long negligence of these districts has not only prevented them from achieving progress but impeded overall national development and growth. Therefore, this initiative must be rigorously implemented as it has the potential to bring all districts on par and contribute back to the society and economy. Given Pakistan’s abundance of natural resources and labour, economically empowered regions would further attract local, regional and international investment allowing the country to compete on a global scale. The onus now lies on the Ministry of Planning to set the project in motion to rehabilitate the districts. Importantly, leadership changes should not hinder socio-development projects and political parties must prioritise national interests over political point-scoring.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2022.
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