Youth Development Index a strategic instrument for policy reforms, says Mashhood
Pakistan stands at the defining moment of its demographic change where it can seize this opportunity or miss it, said Dr Luay Shabaneh, Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in his opening remarks here at the inaugural session of a two-day symposium on Tuesday.
The National Data for Development (D4D) Symposium 2025 was organized by the UNFPA in partnering with Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), and with the support from the Government of the Netherlands.
Dr Luay Shabaneh described the symposium as a moment to reflect on two years of the D4D initiative and renew commitments to using data for development. “Data is not just numbers but it reflects dignity, accountability and lived realities of people,” he said, adding: “data tells the story of how people survive and what they need to survive.” He termed the Youth Development Index (YDI) tools a ‘mirror’ that highlights both national averages and hidden disparities. The index, he said, covers critical areas, including health & wellbeing, civil & political participation, peace & security, and other key aspects central to youth development.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, the Chairman of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, said the YDI would provide a robust evidence base for designing and evaluating youth-focused policies at federal, provincial and district levels. He noted that the index, aligned with global standards, measures youth development across key domains, including education, employment, health, equality, peace and security, and civic and political participation.
Rana Mashhood suggested that with a majority of population comprising the youth, the index should be treated not merely as a statistical exercise but as a strategic instrument for policy reform, institutional strengthening and long-term youth empowerment. He acknowledged the support of UNFPA and SDPI in developing the index and underscored the need to link youth outcomes with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.
Former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Shamshad Akhtar said data-enabled development planning is no longer an option but a critical imperative for effective governance. Drawing on her experience at the United Nations, where she oversaw statistical systems and contributed to the design of the SDGs, she stressed that reliable, repeatable and timely data is essential to distinguish between immediate priorities, medium-term interventions and long-term strategic planning.
Dr Akhtar warned that weak data systems, particularly at provincial and local government levels, undermine policy impact, especially in areas such as climate resilience, urban planning, health, transport and social protection. She highlighted the potential of modern tools, including satellite imagery, mobile data, geospatial analysis and real-time dashboards to improve service delivery, anticipate disasters and ensure inclusive urban development. Without such systems, she cautioned, Pakistan risked deepening inequalities and creating cities of exclusion as urbanization accelerates.
Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, the SDPI Executive Director, said data dashboards were essential for transparency and better decision-making but inconsistencies in definitions and methodologies across institutions often delayed policy responses. He said the YDI includes space for community-led and citizen-generated data, strengthening accountability and complementing official statistics.
