Inevitable social uplift

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A staggering $20 billion pouring into Pakistan's social mosaic is a game-changer. The World Bank's largesse is the first of its kind for the developing country since 1950, and the new 10-year partnership is simply in need of astute supervision and implementation. While the programme focuses stringently on building human capital, it has also underscored the laxity that was persisting in Pakistan in terms of addressing areas such as nutrition, health, education and empowerment. The package is a leap forward in the sense that it brings on board the private sector too for fostering a durable interaction, and making it foolproof from governmental prejudice.

Pakistan has dismal statistics to share when it comes to social indicators, and it goes without saying that the worst neglected are health and education sectors. Moreover, the country is home to a biased approach where the haves and have-nots are compartmentalised in terms of receiving quality education and health services. That is why the international lender's strategy is one of unanimity wherein it intends to bridge the gap by increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio to over 15 per cent; harness the goals set by the UN's SDGs; and see to it that over the next decade 12 million students get quality education, 50 million citizens are given healthcare coverage, 60 million people are provided with safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, 30 million individuals are ensured food security, and over 30 million women avail apt family planning services.

If proper synergies and workforce is put at the disposal of this World Bank's framework, it will come to benefit 75 million people to overcome flood and disaster risks, and relearn climate change crosscurrents in a better manner, apart from enjoying 10 Gigawatts of renewable energy capacity. With more than 50% of people bellows the poverty line, it would be no small change to see child stunting addressed, poverty take a downslide and sustainability in the energy sector is achieved. There should be no going back on this mega-deal of prosperity, and the lender must keep an eye to ensure its viability.