Pakistan has shown an improvement in Sustainable Development Goal Ranking. It has achieved 129 goals out of 193. The index shows 57.7 percent which brings a positive outcome in all 17 SDGs. The growth is 1.5 pc better than the last year 2021. Pakistan luckily falls between the countries like China, and Singapore heading the upward progress. Pakistan has scored a 3 percent improvement in the whole region.
Sustainable development is the method of planning growth and economic development to avoid the depletion of natural resources. The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. Before moving forward, we must take a quick background of this Millennium Summit. The first-millennium summit was held in 1992. Our main focus will highlight the goals of 2015 to 2030. Millennium Summit was led to the elaboration of eight-millennium development Goals (MDGs), to reduce extreme poverty by 2015. Which was succeeded in SDGs Sustainable Development Goals 2015 (United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015) as the adoption was held from 25 to 27 September 2015.
Pakistan has shown an improvement in Sustainable Development Goal Ranking. It has achieved 129 goals out of 193. The index shows 57.7 percent which brings a positive outcome in all 17 SDGs. The growth is 1.5 pc better than the last year 2021. Pakistan luckily falls between the countries like China, and Singapore heading the upward progress. Pakistan has scored a 3 percent improvement in the whole region.
The performance gets improved even in the backlash of the COVID Pandemic. Comparing the staging of neighboring countries like India that went down by 3 ranks and Bangladesh did slay on the same position. In Catamenial, Sustainable growth has been shown in the Pakistan’s economy. The report was categorically evaluated by United Nations, World Bank, private and government research sources.
This report is not just the observance but applause for the efforts of hardworking economists who have collected standardized data up to the SDGs benchmark. Due to the struggle of data collection inception, reporting, and addition of new indicators, the current year was not luckily affected by the 3rd and 4th waves of COVID.
The index clarifies the position of Pakistan between the worst (0) and the best-targeted goals (100) outcomes. If we take a root analysis of this report, we will get to know that Pakistan tracks its performance just in Climate Actions (goal 13). Meanwhile, other goals are headway down like SDG 15 (Life on Land). All other targeted sustainable goals are festering in the same position.
The report isn’t highlighting the national and current data of some required queries that are impacting the scoring and ranking of Pakistan. The report openly admits that time wrap is found in the collection of data. This doesn’t bring the other perspective of SDGs catered by report during the comprehension of data of some important areas. For example, against SDGs indicators 7.1.1, the proportion of the population with access to electricity is reported to be decreasing and 71.1pc was observed in 2018. The revolutionaries’ increase of electricity has touched 3 pc between the years 2015 to 2020 has shown the benefits of SDGs goals.
The government of Pakistan is taking strategic steps to increase the growth rank of SDGs. For this purpose, the government has initiated a profound survey to assess the effects of COVID-19 on prescribed and required goals. When we read the survey report of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics COVID-19 special of 2020, we get to know that the 27.31 million working population was overblown by it. Connected to SDG 1 ( No Poverty) and SDG 2 ( Zero Hunger) and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic growth, 20.6m people didn’t get any work to do at the start of the Pandemic. According to statistics, 6.7m people’s income got declined. As per the form and growing network, most of the households had reduced their non-food expenditures. This puts stress on 74pc of the informal workers.
If we see the SDGs goal 4, we will get to know that the Pandemic directly affects 42m children from higher secondary and degree college levels. There were reasons behind it like blackjack of internet access; no skilled staff was there for on-line teaching etc. This created the most inordinate scenario of education for the most vulnerable groups, especially females and other marginalized groups in city and village areas. The government has introduced the Ehsaas Programme to achieve the SDGs 1, SDG 2, and SDG 3 goals. The NCOC has successfully roll-out vaccination in the whole country. On 1st December 2021, 33pc (5.07m) of Pakistan’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated with a total of 124.05m. In the whole world, economists have applauded the efforts of the Pakistan government that which has taken effective measures to control the new coronavirus variant Omicron. The NCOC had also announced the authentic booster vaccines for health care workers, front-line doctors, and aged over 50 years on the same day.
Now we will critically evaluate the SDGs and Pakistan index. Pakistan is showing declining on the index and stood at 130 in 2019. The government scores 55.6/100 (Highest in Goal 7 and Lowest in Goal 5 and 9). The government has divided SDGs into 70 percent for Provincial and 20 percent Federal. The goals are not achieved properly due to the lack of finances and expertise. The economist has suggested the framework of Public-Private Partnership and Donor Funder Development Programmers. The root cause of this staggering situation is the Burgeoning Population. However, the government has vigilantly initiated the Ehsaas Program. Pakistan affirmed its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals. Pakistan has prioritized the SDG’s goals from the day first. The success of these goals will enable us to join the league of upper-middle-class countries by 2030.
Pakistan vision 2025 recognizes that sufficient, reliable, clean, and cost-effective availability of energy, water, and food- for now and in the future – is indispensable to ensure sustainable economic growth and development. Pakistan’s potential to achieve world–class growth is hampered by an adverse image within the country and overseas. The resultant challenges have a direct impact on the nature and scalability of available development channels. Accordingly, it is important to ensure that the country’s strength and potential are appropriately conveyed to all people of Pakistan. Pakistan government believes in the pledge of “Leave No One Behind” and will work to acquire all SDGs future goals.
