Even though there has been an improvement by three places, Pakistan still lags far behind its neighbouring countries in the region in human development. The Human Development Report identifies factors like per capita income, educational achievement and life expectancy to the measuring determinants of global development, and in addition, explicates the global tendencies in human development.
Although the UNDP has identified a large rift in the human development index (HDI) between the clusters of developed and developing countries, the index shows an alarming situation as Pakistan falls way below its neighbouring South Asian countries. Basic human provision and resources like technological advancement, education, health, access to food and clean water, and employment are some of the factors that Pakistan is struggling with.
To make it worse, brain drain is an escalating crisis whereby over the last three years, close to a million Pakistanis have migrated in search of a better a life. This leaves behind a vacuum that leads to further decline in the national development and the resultant GDP.
On the other hand, crises stemming from climate change remain one of the biggest threats to Pakistan’s development. The country is not ready — and not preparing enough — to tackle climate change. UNDP has pointed to human inequality as major toll on Pakistan’s failing response to emergency in human development. Political polarisation and the consequent pressures push the challenges further making economic and digital progress more difficult than ever for the country.
The only remarkable progress Pakistan made that raised its HDI index from 164 to 161 was during Covid-19 when the country’s resilience ensured lesser damage as compared to other countries. Yet, greater mobilisation and action are needed to develop an architecture for digital market, response to climate change and innovative financial mechanisms.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2024
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