Pakistan recently underwent
significant political and structural reforms, moving towards
macro-economic stability, debt management, revival of the democratic
process with increased women’s representation, major institutional reforms
with emphasis on devolution and decentralization, significant progress in
information technology, reduction in population growth, and food grain
self-sufficiency, which has been maintained for the past several years.
Efforts to combat corruption and improve law and order have been firmly
established.
The nation has demonstrated resilience in dealing with
the challenges posed by drought, the impact of the Afghan crisis, influx
of refugees and the 11 September aftermath. While the difficult regional
security situation has led to a diversion of scarce development resources
to defence, Pakistan has striven to resolve issues according to the
principles of the United Nations Charter, as indicated in the common
country assessment (CCA).
With a human development
index of 0.498 in 1999, Pakistan ranked 127 out of a total of 162
countries, and with a gender-related development index of 0.466 in 1999 it
ranked 117 out of a total of 146 countries, according to the Human
Development Report 2001. According to government estimates in 2000, 34 per
cent of the population lives below the poverty line, while the cost of
environmental degradation was estimated at 4.3 per cent of GDP in 1998.
Although there has been some improvement in women’s status over the last
several years, the position of women in Pakistan remains weak and gender
disparities are reflected in all social indicators. As a result of its
debt burden, low revenue base and recent low growth rates, Pakistan has
not been able to invest adequately in human development.
Public investments in
the 1990s focused mainly on infrastructure. Private education and health
services are common but expensive, whereas public services are inadequate,
particularly in rural areas and for women and girls. Social regression,
land degradation and unemployment have further reduced. resources
available to the poor. It is recognized that the answer to these problems
lies in improving the quality of governance, making make it more inclusive
and participatory; strengthening systems of accountability and
transparency; promoting citizens’ involvement in decisions that influence
their lives; and strengthening the role of the Government in facilitating
development.
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