Pakistan at a Glance
By Qaswa Malik
Millenium Development Goals
Proportion of poor in 1990-91 was 26.1% Poverty has declined due to high growth especially in agriculture sector during 2004-5.
Target 1. Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day
Target 2. Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from Hunger.
High growth, low inflation and job creation are required to help in coming close to achieving the MDG 2015 targets.
Poverty in Pakistan has decreased from 34.5% to 17.2% and hunger went down with it in Musharraf years from 2000-2008, as reported by World Bank.
Eradicate Poverty & Hunger
Target 6. Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.
The maternal mortality ratio declined from 350 in 2001-02 to 276 in 2006- 07. The MTDF target has been achieved, however, in order to achieve MDG target, a dedicated effort is required.
With the economy is still growing at slower pace, sadly it is difficult to meet the goals.
Environmental Sustainability
Improve Maternal Health
Achieve Universal Primary Education
Primary enrollment in 1990-91 was 46% and it has increased to 52%. Reasons include opportunity cost, poverty, illiteracy of parents, and parents concerns about safety and mobility of daughters. Cost of education has raised due to high inflation.
Target: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and to all levels of education no later than 2015.
This target is likely to be unachievable by 2015 because they have already missed targets of 2005 MDG goals because of slow progress.
Promote Gender Equality
Reduce Child Mortality
Target: Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
There has been a decline in the infant mortality rate from 102 to 75 per thousand live births between 1990- 2007. Rate is unsatisfactory. Though Pakistan has managed to lower the under-five mortality rate, there is still a need to reduce it by 42 percentage points by 2015, a highly improbable outcome.
Target 7. Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
Target 8. Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.
The government is giving special attention to the situation and with commitment shown to this disease it seems possible that Pakistan will achieve the target by 2015.
Malaria related issues need attention as the proportion of population in malaria risk areas using effective malaria prevention treatment and measure has increased slightly by ten points (from 20 to 30) during 2001 to 2009.
Combat HIV/AIDS & other Diseases
Target 9. Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources
Target 10. Halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water
Target 11. By 2020 to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
Pakistan has become one of the largest users of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the world and the MDG target for this indicator has already been achieved.
Water supply coverage increased from 53 percent in 1990 to 65 percent in 2008-09.
The sanitation coverage in the country has increased from 30 percent in 1990 to 63 percent in 2008-09.
Global Partnership
Target 15. Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term
Target 16. In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth
Target 17. In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.
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