EXERCISE SIMMERING CURRENTS 2014/15 19

INTRODUCTION
 South Asia is unique with its myriad of problems.
 Home to 3 nuclear powers but also to the world’s poorest.
 One fifth of humanity (1.6 billion) live here with a GDP of
US$ 2.4 trillion.
 Although in the past 20 years, South Asia has experienced
economic growth averaging 6% a year; 44% of the world’s
poor inhabit it;
 571 million survive on less than US$ 1.25 a day;.
 In this backdrop Pakistan has to co-exist with adversaries
like India and Afghanistan and cooperate with competitors
like Iran, the GCC and SAARC member states
 INTRODUCTION
 Pakistan created on the basis of an idea, a dream and a
vision.
 “The Pakistan Dream” envisioned for Muslims of South Asia
to showcase to the world that they could establish a state
based on justice, dignity, security, and prosperity without
prejudice and discrimination.
 Unfortunately, this young nation still has to realize that dream
 Today Pakistan, pitched as it is, on the crossroads of its
short but eventful national history, is faced with crisis of
confidence engulfing the whole ambit of its economic, social
and political affairs.
 Contd

 One major distinguishing factor, which played defining role

in Pakistan’s development was our political instability.

 Pendulum between martial laws and democracy took 66

years before the first democratic government to complete
its tenure. This way, year 2013 was a milestone in Pakistani
history, which witnessed first ever democratic transfer of
power in the country.
 Contd

 International media paint a grim picture of the country.

 Increasingly vocal Civil society and has a powerful

voice through the media, the NGOs and HR groups but
they lack coordination and mobilisation.

 The prospect of a change in the country mainly rests

with its youth who form 65% of its population.
 CHALLENGES
 Pakistan has a host of challenges, security, political, economic and
social
 All have an internal and external dimension
 Low growth and high inflation perpetuates poverty and
unemployment.
 Energy shortages problems for citizens as well as economy
 Social indicators reflect serious deficiencies in education, health
and population, gender equity and social services.
 The law and order situation in the country poses a critical threat to
security as well as the economy.
 The challenges are compounded by global factors such as climate
change, aftermath of global economic, financial, and energy
crises, a fragile global financial system, and the continued
dependence on aid flows.
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES
 In terms of economic indicators, Pakistan is a middle income
country but in social indicators it falls amongst least
developed countries
 Pakistan GDP growth for the past many years has riveted on
3.5 per cent.
 Tax to GDP ratio is a very low 12.6 %.
 Debt servicing is equal to 120 % of the total federal
government revenue.
 Expenditure on education has been floating between 2% to
3%.
 2.5 % of GDP on health which is perhaps the lowest in the
world.
 Energy is still a major threat to industry and business and an
appalling hardship for domestic consumers.
Pakistan’s population is projected to increase to over 227 million by 2025. The
population will also comprise a much larger proportion of younger people (63%
below the age of 30).
 TERRORISM
 The country has been in the grip of terrorism for the last about
three decades. The extremists have no regard for the life and
property of innocent people.
 Terrorism and extremism continues to impose immense social,
economic, and human costs
 Bomb blasts, target killings and suicidal attacks have become a
normal routine and have created an atmosphere of horror and
terror.
 Hinders foreign investment in Pakistan.
 Frontline partners with the US and Western allies in war in
Afghanistan having suffered heavy losses of life and property.
 Spent more than $85 billion to combat terrorism on our streets
and alleys.
 IMPACT ON WOMEN

 Globally women face challenges even in most developed

societies
 Problems are prounced in traditional and poor communities
 In Pakistan women are the most impacted by the security,
political, economic and social challenges
 Continue to be treated as property and not as individuals
 Highest rates of illiteracy and unemployment
 Lack of opportunities and empowerment
 Lack of representation in both political and economic sector
 Subjected to violence and discrimination based on traditional
customs that have no basis on religion
 IMPACT ON WOMEN
 Several steps being taken to overcome this challenge:

 National Commission on Status of Women, a statutory body

in June 2000 as part of Pakistan’s commitment to the
Beijing Action Plan
 NCSW oversees all existing legislation and practices in
Pakistan to ensure that no discrimination against women
 Ensures that all government policies are in accordance with
women’s rights
 Introduction of women’s rights legislation in provincial and
national legislative bodies
 IMPACT ON WOMEN
 Representation of women in Parliament – local, provincial
and national
 Number of women in education sector – doctors, lawyers
and engineers
 Cases of abuse against women highlighted and activism
has increased
 Focus of female literacy through primary, adult and distance
literacy prgs.
 Focus on maternal and child health and population welfare
programmes
 Empowerment through microfinance schemes
 IMPACT ON WOMEN
 More women in civil society networks are taking up issues

 Women’s issues resulting from poverty, violence,

disenfranchiement being discussed more in media

 Media focussing more on violence against women

 Judiciary more active due to increase in awareness

especially through women lawyers

 But we still have a long way to go

 FOCUS ON EDUCATION
 In 2013, develop a strategy that focused on building national consensus in
implementing government programmes for social and economic uplift for
the people of Pakistan

 Vision 2025 chalked out 7 pillars for development.

 Foremost amongst them is education. Key goals under this pillar are;
 Universal primary education with 100% net primary enrolment.
 Increase Higher Education coverage from 7% to 12 %
 Increase proportion of population with access to improved sanitation
from 48% to 90%
 To translate this into a reality the government’s 5 year plan of the
government (2013-18) focuses on greater investment in human resource
development, health, education, employment, gender and youth.
 VISION 2025
 7 PILLARS OF DEVELOPMENT:

 Pillar I: Putting People First – Developing Human and Social Capital

 Pillar II: Achieving Sustained, Indigenous and Inclusive Growth
 Pillar III: Democratic Governance, Institutional Reform and
Modernization of the Public Sector
 Pillar IV: Water, Energy and Food Security
 Pillar V: Private Sector and Entrepreneurship Led Growth
 Pillar VI: Developing a Competitive Knowledge Economy through Value
Addition
 Pillar VII: Modernizing Transportation Infrastructure and Greater
Regional Connectivity
 FOCUS ON PRIORITY AREAS
 Meet basic needs of this growing population, including in
particular their access to essential services—health, education,
energy, water, and sanitation.

 Provide social, legal, and physical infrastructure needed to

empower people and ensure that they are able to live their lives
with dignity

 Protection of human rights and life security

 Empowering women and poverty and hunger eliminated.

 Responsible and accountable government and public sector

 FOCUS ON PRIORITY AREAS
 Responsible and accountable government and public
sector
 Entrepreneurial private sector that can generate
employment
 Economy to engage effectively with and benefit from
regional opportunities.
 Ensuring competitiveness in the knowledge economy.
 Protecting natural resources and addressing climate
change.
 MOST IMPORTANTLY: Rapid growth of the GDP in order to
generate the required number of jobs, with an emphasis on
‘inclusive growth’
 CONCLUSION
 Pakistan today faces formidable social, economic, security and
governance challenges.
 Want to turn them into opportunities through sound economic planning,
good governance and consistency in policy implementation.
 As we pass through an era of unprecedented change and complexity,
we would refresh our framework for national development.
 A renewed commitment to the founding vision to address the current
challenges and set out realistic and ambitious targets for the future—
including ensuring that Pakistan succeeds in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) of zero poverty and hunger, universal
access to health services, education, modern energy services, clean
water and sanitation
 Our ultimate aspiration is to see Pakistan among the ten largest
economies of the world by 2047 – the centennial year of our
independence.