- Millions denied education, healthcare, and dignity — crisis hits women, youth, and rural communities hardest
Pakistan, a nation of over 240 million people, faces a human development emergency that threatens not only its economic future but the well-being, dignity, and potential of its people. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) 2023-24, Pakistan ranks 164th out of 193 countries, with an HDI score of 0.540, placing it in the “low human development” category.
These numbers reveal a painful reality — millions of Pakistanis are denied access to basic rights such as quality education, healthcare, decent living standards, and equal opportunities. The crisis is not just about statistics; it is about people — especially women, youth, rural communities, and marginalized groups — being left behind.
The human development crisis affects everyone, but it hits some harder than others:
Women and Girls:
Despite their immense potential, millions of Pakistani women and girls face barriers to education, healthcare, and economic participation. Gender inequality remains deeply entrenched, with rural women particularly excluded from decision-making, jobs, and public life. Pakistan’s low ranking in global gender equality indices reflects how unequal development undermines national progress.
Children and Youth:
Over 22 million children are out of school, many from low-income families, minority groups, or remote areas. For youth, unemployment, lack of skills training, and limited opportunities fuel frustration and economic exclusion. Without investing in its young population, Pakistan risks losing its demographic advantage.
Rural and Underserved Communities:
In remote provinces and tribal areas, access to clean water, electricity, quality schools, and healthcare remains scarce. The urban-rural development divide widens poverty and exclusion, making entire communities invisible to national development efforts.
Persons with Disabilities and Minorities:
Social stigma, inaccessible infrastructure, and policy neglect mean persons with disabilities and religious or ethnic minorities face compounded disadvantages, with few pathways to education, employment, or representation.
The Root Causes: Why Development is Unequal
Several interlinked factors deepen Pakistan’s human development crisis:
✔ Energy Insecurity: Frequent power outages affect hospitals, schools, and industries, worsening poverty and social exclusion, particularly in marginalized regions.
✔ Weak Public Services: Chronic underfunding, governance gaps, and political instability compromise the quality of education, healthcare, and social welfare.
✔ Economic Fragility: Limited job creation, reliance on a narrow economic base, and inflation disproportionately affect the poor, especially women and informal workers.
✔ Social Inequalities: Patriarchal norms, regional disparities, and exclusion of minorities hinder equal access to opportunities.
Towards an Inclusive Future: The Way Forward
Pakistan cannot achieve sustainable development if large segments of its population remain excluded. Inclusive human development is not a luxury — it is the foundation of national stability, prosperity, and dignity. The following priorities are essential:
Empower Women and Girls:
Guarantee equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for women. Invest in safe schools, reproductive health, and gender-sensitive policies that break cycles of exclusion.
Invest in Marginalized Communities:
Prioritize development in rural, tribal, and underdeveloped regions. Ensure every Pakistani, regardless of geography, ethnicity, or income, has access to essential services and infrastructure.
Address the Energy Crisis for Human Development:
Energy is not just an economic issue — it is a human development right. Reliable electricity is essential for healthcare, education, livelihoods, and dignity. Strengthening the energy sector, including Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and renewable solutions, is critical for inclusive progress.
Quality Education for All:
Education must be inclusive, affordable, and relevant to 21st-century needs. Special attention is required for out-of-school children, girls, and marginalized groups.
Social Protection and Safety Nets:
Expand targeted welfare programs, protect vulnerable populations from economic shocks, and ensure no one is pushed into poverty due to illness, unemployment, or discrimination.
Participation and Representation:
Inclusion means ensuring that women, minorities, youth, and persons with disabilities are represented in decision-making at all levels. Their voices must shape policies that affect their lives.
Pakistan’s human development crisis is not inevitable — it is a product of choices, policies, and priorities. Inclusive development is the only pathway to a just, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan where every citizen, regardless of gender, identity, or background, can fulfill their potential.
The challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity. By investing in people, closing development gaps, and ensuring no one is left behind, Pakistan can rewrite its development story — from exclusion to empowerment, from vulnerability to resilience.
The time to act is now — for a Pakistan where human development is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all.
The writer is a socio-political analyst, researcher, and writer, contributing to Pakistan & Gulf Economist and Daily The Spokesman. He is affiliated with the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR) and the Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS). His work focuses on governance, economics, foreign policy, and inclusive development across South Asia, Africa, and beyond. He may be approached at azamtariqalihaider@gmail.com