79 years and counting: still catching up

As Pakistan celebrates 79 years of independence, this is an ideal time to reflect on the country's social development successes and difficulties. Since 1947, Pakistan has achieved enormous strides in education, health and human development. However, in comparison to neighbouring countries such as India and Bangladesh, the rate of socioeconomic advancement has been slower in some important indicators. Understanding these tendencies gives vital insights into the country's development trajectory as well as future policy goals.

Education is a key pillar of social and economic advancement. As per Economic Survey 2025-26, Pakistan now has a literacy rate of 63%, which is much lower than India's 80.9% (Labor Force Survey 2023-24) and Bangladesh's 77.9% (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). Similarly, according to World Bank, the estimated number of years of schooling in Pakistan is only 7.9, compared to 13 in India and 11.1 in Bangladesh. The difficulty is exacerbated by the large percentage of out-of-school children, estimated at 28%, compared to 16.8% in India according to UDISEPlus 2023-24. This is one of the most significant impediments to developing a trained and productive workforce.

Women's involvement in economic activities is another important indicator of social advancement. Pakistan's female labour force participation rate is only 24.5%, significantly lower than India's 32% and Bangladesh's 39%. Pakistan's low female participation percentage demonstrates unrealised economic potential and emphasises the importance of measures that promote women's access to education, skill development, childcare facilities and safe working conditions.

Health indicators show both advances and ongoing problems. According to WHO, Pakistan's life expectancy has improved significantly after independence, reaching 67 years. However, this is still lower than the average life expectancy in India which is 72 years and Bangladesh's 73 years. Similarly, Pakistan's child mortality rate is still high, with 47 fatalities per 1,000 live births, compared to 29.08 in India and 30.67 in Bangladesh. These numbers indicate that, despite advances in healthcare access and disease management, Pakistan still faces substantial issues in maternity and child health, nutrition, sanitation and basic healthcare delivery.

Healthcare infrastructure is another issue that need immediate attention. Pakistan has just 6.96 hospital beds for per 10,000 inhabitants, which is less than half of India's 15.9 beds and fewer than Bangladesh's 9.2. The lack of healthcare facilities puts enormous strain on the health system, especially during public health emergencies and epidemics. Expanding healthcare infrastructure and investing in primary and preventive care will be critical to improve population health outcomes.

Population dynamics have a significant impact on social development results. Pakistan's population growth rate of 2.1% exceeds India's 0.89% and Bangladesh's 1.7%. Rapid population increase puts additional strain on educational institutions, healthcare facilities, housing, job prospects and government functions. While a youthful and increasing population might provide a demographic dividend, realising this possibility would need significant expenditures in human capital development and employment creation.

Comparing social development with neighbouring countries shows that economic growth alone is insufficient without long-term investment in people. Bangladesh, which began with development indicators comparable to or worse than Pakistan's in the early decades of independence, has now exceeded Pakistan in several social measures. India has also achieved tremendous advancements in education and health sectors in recent decades. As Pakistan approaches its 80th year of independence, the route forward necessitates putting human development at the forefront of national policy. Improving literacy, lowering out-of-school children, expanding female labour force participation, enhancing healthcare institutions and regulating population increase should all be national priorities. The country's future success will be determined not just by economic progress, but also by its capacity to translate social development indicators into opportunities for all inhabitants.