PAKISTAN TODAY

Week-1
Spring 2019
 Resource Person
• Tahir Ashfaq
Associate Professor,UCP-Business School

• Specialized Areas

Management & Communication

 What is my take home ?
• Get familiar with Socio Economic scenarios
prevailing in Pakistan.
• Understand issues , challenges and
opportunities faced by Pakistan as a country
on multidimensional fronts.
• Able to compare and contrast Pakistan’s key
socio-economic indicators with other
countries of the world
 What is my take home?
• understand and analyze Government’s policies
and initiatives impacting socio-economic –
business structure of the country
• To appreciate the importance of setting
national priorities
• How will this be helpful for us in the future; in
our careers, in our businesses, as investors?
 Location matters : Geography of
Pakistan today
• Pakistan is located in Asian continent has an area of
approx 900,000 Sq Km making it 33rd largest country in
the world area wise.
• Pakistan shares borders with India in east, China north-
east Afghanistan in west and Iran in south- west.
• Longest land borders are with India and Afghanistan in
range of 1500-2000 Km
• In South Pakistan claims 1200 km Arabian sea coastline
with three deep water functional ports.
 Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan
• Pakistan’s geo-strategic importance can be best
understood in regional and global perspective
• gateway to Central Asian states and Afghanistan over
land routes and to oil rich gulf states through Sea route.
• This makes Pakistan a very important regional player and
partner in trade and development projects investments
with its neighbouring countries.
• Realizing Pakistan’s geographical importance China with
its CPEC, Afghanistan with TAPI gas pipeline and Iran with
its power projects all have eyes on Pakistan.
 Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan
• Gwadar port offers tremendous cost saving as the
only warm water deep sea port access from and to
Central Asia and China

• Although Pakistan share largest border with India but

due to conflicts its potential to date not fully
realized-Both countries can enjoy free trade routes
over land and reap its economic benefits if things
get normal.
 Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan

• Regional countries are seeking new markets and that

raises the stakes for Pakistan.
• Pakistan can emerge as a major regional and global
player on the world map if sound long term plan is
on the table.
• Afghan War makes Pakistan even more important in
observing international peace .
Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan
• Geographical location of Pakistan can play a vital
role in strengthening political and economic
stability
• It can also help Pakistan in addressing its major
issues like unemployment, poverty, weakening
Rupee, power crisis, shrinking industrial base.
• Pakistan needs to work on its relationship with
resources rich India and energy rich Iran
 Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan
• Pakistan must capitalize its geo-strategic importance
and re-define its relationship with the other
countries in the regions(South Asia ).

• Major super powers like US, China and Russia all now
realize how important it is to maintain Pakistan’s
position for the betterment of regional as well as
global community.
 Some Important Projects

• Chine Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) $ 46 billion

• Turkmanistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas
pipeline

• Gawdar port development project by China (COPHC)

• Iran-Pakistan 2013 gas pipeline /electricity

agreement
• Maritime border and sharing of marine resources of
Sultanate of Oman
 Demography of Pakistan Today
• latest UN estimates reveal Pakistan population in
2018 stands at 202 Million ( 1988 101 Million)

• Our ranking 2.25% of the world population .

• Our ranking Pakistan 6th most populated country.
• Population split : 2018 Urban 40% and Rural 60% (
1988 Urban 30% Rural 70%)
• Population density 265 persons /Sq Km
 Reasons for high population
• Majority rural population
• Illiteracy
• Unemployment
• Less awareness about family planning
• Less women empowerment
• Desire of male heir
• Religious believes
• Family pressure
• Poverty
 Demography data of Pakistan Today
• Life expectancy : 67.7 years
• Fertility rate: 3.65
• Infant mortality rate 60/1000 (live births)- Approx
14000 babies are born everyday
• Death rate 8/1000
• Males 51% Females 49%
 Demographic Projections after 25
Years from now
• Population: 227 Million
• Yearly change 1.71 %
• Density: 270 P/Kmsq
• Urban: 43% Rural 57%
• Ranking 5th largest
• Females 50% Males 50%
 YOUTH POPULATION BULGE IN
PAKISTAN TODAY
• Youth bulge means youth population having peak
share in total population
• As per UNDP –NHDR report 60% of total population
of Pakistan is between the ages of 15 and 25 years
which is a record in its history as of today. (120
million)
• Out of this 35% between 15-25 age (43 million)
group and 65% under the age of 15 years (77 million)
• This is staggering number which needs to taken
seriously
 Ranking in Youth Population Bulge
• Pakistan ranks 5th in the world top 10 countries list
and 2nd in SE Asia after Afghanistan in terms of youth
population.
• India and Brazil top the list
• Pakistan is termed as one of those countries who
having alarming youth population bulge as per
UNDP-NHDR classification.
 Key questions
• It is evident that youth population bulge comes with
multiple challenges and issues from the perspective of
youth and raise some serious questions for national
policy makers such as :

1. How to train and engage youth in productive

activities?
2. How to create plan for youth empowerment ?
3. What are the root causes of the obstacles they face?
4. What could be sustainable ways of youth progress?
 Bottom Line Consequences
Pakistan can face following challenges if youth
bulge issue is not handled strategically :
• Economic growth will be slow (GDP)
• Drain on capacities and resources
• Social unrest
• youth loosing confidence on institutions and
system
• Unemployment
• Low quality of life
 Youth Population bulge: Issues and
Challenges in Pakistan Today
• It is important to realize that youth population bugle can
either be youth dividend or fiasco. (as per youth bulge
theorists)
Here are some expert opinions :
• Government of Pakistan must prioritize working with
youth as key pillar of workforce across the board ( US
Resident Coordinator-Neil Buhne)
• The future of Pakistan one way or the other –would be
determined by those who were between 15 and 29 years
of age today ( Lead Author NHDR, Dr Adil Anjum)
 Youth Population bulge: Issues and
Challenges in Pakistan Today
• Pakistan’s current infrastructure in not enough to cater to
the needs of its youth population bulge in terms of
creating meaningful opportunities in education,
employment and engagement that would empower
youth to unleash their potential ( NHDR-Lead auditor)
• In a list of 195 countries Pakistan ranks 181 in terms of
spending on education and training of youth.
• In a same scale Pakistan ranks 186 with regard to HDI
• This clearly shows there is much to be accomplished and
level of commitment needs to be increased
 Youth Population bulge: Issues and
Challenges in Pakistan Today
• Pakistan policy on youth development programs do
not take into account the size bulge and therefore
commitment of resources and investment proves to
be inedaquate and in genreal ineffective to produce
any meaning full solution.
• To be specific education and employment are the
biggest challenges facing Pakistan today specially
with reference to its youth bulge population.
• Challenges related to employment are more severe
then challenges related to education and training
 Youth unemployment: Issues and
challenges
• According to independent sources 2017 estimated
youth unemployment rate in Pakistan was nearly 8%
where as ILO estimates it to be 11% which is higher
than India, Bangladesh and Nepal other countries of
the region.
• Previous efforts like NIP proved to be ineffective to
reduce rate of employment among youth.
• More realistic and effective polices and
implementation is needed in order to contain this
rate of unemployment in youth population
 What is youth Divided?

• Demographic dividend, as defined by the United

Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) means, "the
economic growth potential that can result from
shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when
the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is
larger than the non-working-age share of the
population (14 and younger, and 65 and older)“.
• This definition carries a significant meaning in terms
of future survival and sustainable growth.
Four key Benefits of youth dividend
• The first is the increased labour supply. However, the
magnitude of this benefit appears to be dependent on
the ability of the economy to absorb and productively
employ the extra workers
• The second is the increase in savings. As the number of
dependents decreases individuals can save more. This
increase in national savings rates increases the stock of
capital in developing countries already facing shortages
of capital and leads to higher productivity as the
accumulated capital is invested.
Four key benefits of youth dividend
• The third is human capital. Decreases in fertility
rates result in healthier women and fewer
economic pressures at home. This also allows
parents to invest more resources per child,
leading to better health and educational
outcomes.
• The fourth growth is the increasing domestic
demand brought about by the increasing GDP per
capita and the decreasing dependency ratio.
 PAKISTAN TODAY : YOUTH DIVIDEND
DO WE HAVE ONE OR ITS JUST A BULGE
• In this regard let us examine youth employment data
in detail in Pakistan. First lets keep in mind Pakistan
has close to 120 million of youth population bulge
(age 15-24).
• Out of the 43 million are between age 15-25 and 77
million under the age of 15 years
• This means we are talking about 43 million youth
who are able, healthy and skilled labour force
available as of today in 2018
Youth unemployment in Pakistan
 Key findings from Graphs
• Unemployed youth as a % of total labour force of Pakistan
which is (60 million) currently is around 11-12 %.
• Youth unemployment rate in Pakistan currently stands at close
to 8%
• During the same period global youth unemployment rate
averaged around 13% -Pakistan’s rate is lower
• If we look at region wise break up we can as Pakistan’s youth
unemployment rate in 2016 is well is under 10% within the
region of SE Asia and E Asia as compared to other countries
in the region.
Solutions for turning youth bulge into
youth dividend
• This solution is spread on multidimensional fronts
starting from reforms in basic education system to
advanced tech based education to vocational
training and higher education –and at the same time
• Industrial reforms and expansion of base and
creation of employment opportunities
• Promotion of entrepreneurship culture among youth
• Proper career counselling for choosing the right path
matching skills and individual calibre.
Solutions for turning youth bulge into
youth dividend
• Need of making more vocational and professional
institutes.
• Development of industrial sectors in rural/urban areas in
order to create more employment opportunities for
youth
• Effective and comprehensive internships programs are to
be conceived and implemented at all levels
• Comprehensive scholarship and financial support
schemes for higher education.
• Easy loan schemes for youth entrepreneurship ventures
Solutions for turning youth bulge into
youth dividend
• Youth engagement in terms of education,
employment and empowerment should be the key
focus of any future economic development strategy
of the country.
• Ignoring these vital elements can lead to economic
stagnation, low GDP growth, social unrest.
• Youth unemployment if unchecked will lead to
opportunity for militants for new recruits.
•
Solutions for turning youth bulge into
youth dividend-UNDP REPORT 2018
• UNDP reports that Pakistan has until 2050 to improve is youth
development outcomes. The challenge of turning youth bulge
into dividend to be achieved through combination of
empowerment strategies for the youth
• 77% of young people drop out of educational institution due
to financial reasons.
• Four million youth aim to join workforce every year the
situation becomes more complicated when it lead to the need
of creating 4.5 million jobs to absorb this influx
• Pakistan has to make more youth employable which can only
be done through wider development of skills and training.
 International Labour Organization
Strategic Recommendations
• ILO in 2016 has recommended development of harmonized
national youth development and employment strategy for
Pakistan to make existing youth programs running in the
country more effective :-
• Focus on youth who are not in any educational or training
program.
• Target women, ethnic minorities, rural economies and areas
with lowest human development indicators.
• Focus on disaster-prone and conflict zones areas in order to
initiate rehabilitation programs for the affected youth.
 International Labour Organization
Strategic Recommendations
• Bringing to gather all existing projects, programmes,
and institutions working for youth employment,
education and training, entrepreneurship,
microfinance and social protection of youth rights
under one umbrella for coherence and optimum
outcomes.
• Form strategic working groups at provincial and
regional level to oversee all relevant programs for
employment outcomes
• Comprehensive analysis of existing and emerging
employment sectors locally and overseas.
 UNDP report on Gender issues in
Pakistan
• Total Population Males 51% Females 49%
• Most women have no formal skills, making this
segment of the society vulnerable to injustice and
discrimination. Providing women with skills and
employment opportunities will help establish
prosperity and economic growth ( UNDP report )
In age group 0-15 Males 52% Females 48% and in age
group 15-25 Males 55% Females 45%
What’s her future ?
 UNDP report on Gender issues in
Pakistan
• There have been important advances in gender
equality in Pakistan in recent years.
• Pakistani women today are more likely to participate
in the labour force and decision-making, and access
health and education services, than their mothers
and grandmothers.
• With about a fifth of parliamentary seats held by
women, Pakistan has a strong representation in
terms of women’s political representation in South
Asia.
 UNDP report on Gender issues in
Pakistan
• But considerable progress is required for Pakistani
women to fully access their rights to fulfil their life
aspirations, and empower themselves to be full partners
in development.
• Women comprise over half of Pakistan’s population, yet
only 22.7 percent are part of the labour force. Even those
who are part of the labour force are largely in the
informal sector, receiving low pay and with few legal
protections.
• Less than a fifth of Pakistani women have been to
secondary school, compared to over half of Indian
women. UNDP seeks women equality and empowerment
and easy access to country’s justice system.
 Gender issue related Challenges in
Pakistan
• Making women productive starting from household
to community to industrial level in terms of skills,
education and training.
• Empowering women to play key role in justice and
political systems system
• Creating job opportunities for women across all
sectors traditionally perceives only for men.
• Microfinance for widows and single women
entrepreneurs in order to be financially independent
UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON GENDER
EQUALITY IN PAKISTAN
• The United Nations report on gender equality for its
Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 with Pakistan
being one of the main four countries in focus. The
report identifies inequality among women and girls
and paints a sorry picture for the country.
• Using data from a UN Demographic and Health Surveys
2012-2013 report which takes into account variables
such as wealth, location and ethnicity, the report
reveals that 12 per cent of women in Pakistan (4.9
million) aged 18-49 are simultaneously deprived in four
Sustainable Development Goals-related dimensions: 1.
Child marriages, 2. Education, 3. Healthcare, and 4.
Employment.
 Gender issue and challenges for
Pakistan (UN REPORT )
• Almost 70 per cent of the female urban population in Pakistan
lives in slums where they lack at least one of the following:
access to clean water, improved sanitation facilities, durable
housing or sufficient living area.
• While inequality is observed across all indicators, the largest
disparity is seen in regards to education.
• Where 98.8 per cent of the women belonging to rural
background and 29.3 per cent belonging to the richest urban
dwellers lack access to education.
• In total 74 per cent of have an average of less than 6 years of
education. The data reveals that poor, rural Pashtun women
are the most disadvantaged in literacy.
 Gender issue and challenges for
Pakistan (UN REPORT )
• Child marriage, widespread across all socioeconomic groups,
encompasses 12 per cent of all women aged 18–49 (or 4.9
million). Almost 24 per cent of women belonging to the
richest households and a staggering 63 per cent from the
most disadvantaged backgrounds are married before age 18.
• A unique disparity was found in employment with the richest
more likely to lack employment as compared to the poorest –
at 86.8 per cent and 53.3 per cent respectively.
• While poverty pushed the poorest women into precarious,
0ften informal and unpaid work, the rich face significant
barriers including biased gender norms, discrimination in
wages and limited job options.
 Highlights of Punjab Government policy on
women development 2018
• Core of policy based on how to tackle Gender
Discrimination at all levels of society
• Set pace for motivation to achieve gender parity in
shortest possible time
• Introduction of the 18th amendment to the
Constitution of Pakistan that devolved various
functions to the provinces, the Punjab government
has introduced several laws to support the cause of
gender mainstreaming and women development
 Highlight of Punjab Government policy on
women development 2018
• The government had last year approved the Punjab
Women Empowerment Package 2017 that required
the women development department to put in place
a policy to address the whole range of women
development concerns and challenges
• including gender mainstreaming and women
empowerment in line with the spirit of the
Constitution, Pakistan’s international commitments
and priorities of the provincial government.
 Highlights of Punjab Government policy
on women development 2018
• The policy envisions a gender-sensitive Punjab, gender parity
where women and men enjoy equity and equality in all walks of life;
• women and girls are able to fulfil their roles towards achieving and
enjoying individual and collective well-being, development and
prosperity without any explicit or implicit discrimination.
• In the new policy, the Punjab government has committed to provide
an enabling women development framework that supports
inclusive governance and development in the province.
• The government will ensure equal rights and opportunities for
women, alongside men, at the level of family, community,
workplace and across all state apparatus.
 Highlights of Punjab Government
policy on women development 2018
• In order to promote and facilitate equal and prompt
access to education for girls alongside boys including
retention at all levels of universal and quality
education, the government will be required to offer
improved and wider opportunities for women’s
education and training.
• The women development policy will be required to
offer quality and affordable health service delivery and
care for women alongside men with a particular focus
on maternal health, women’s reproductive rights and
immunisation outcomes.
 Highlights of Punjab Government
policy on women development 2018
• The women development department will be
responsible for strengthening existing and
introducing additional collection and reporting
on gender-disaggregated data.
• The data will support efforts for promoting
advocacy, watchdog, research and knowledge
development functions on themes of gender
mainstreaming and women empowerment.
 Implementation of Policy
• As wide-ranging sectors are involved in the
implementation of the policy, officials concerned
say the department will need to adopt a holistic
and interlinked approach during implementation
to embrace success
• department in consultation with all stakeholders
will also be required to develop short-term (1-2
years), medium (3-4 years) and long-term (5-10
years) action plans with clearly defined outputs,
outcomes and monitoring indicators for
implementation of the policy.