Pakistan’s development journey has been marked by transient ambition, people’s resilience, and recurring setbacks.
From the MDGs to the SDGs we pledged to global goals, set up SDG support units, and submitted Voluntary National Reviews, yet our performance has been uneven at best and, in several areas, deteriorating. We have expanded electricity access and seen some gains in financial inclusion, but education, health, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and governance remain major shortfalls. Internationally, Pakistan’s SDG Index score of 57.0 places us near the bottom third of countries, underscoring the distance we must travel to meet global norms.
The most alarming development is the return of poverty, but that reversal sits alongside broader SDG backsliding. Recent assessments show only a minority of targets are on track while many indicators are stagnating or worsening; fiscal constraints, weak public investment in social sectors, and fragmented implementation have left only a small share of SDG targets advancing. This is not a technical failure alone; it is a governance failure—policy inconsistency, short-termism, weak accountability, and underfunded local institutions have turned achievable targets into missed opportunities.
Poor governance over the last three years amplified shocks that pushed households back into poverty: inflation surged, real incomes fell, energy tariffs and indirect taxes rose without adequate protection, and social support was delayed or uneven. The cost of living became a daily negotiation; inflation in this context functions as a regressive tax that erodes dignity and savings. Conflict dynamics worsened as service delivery faltered and local grievances grew; weak coordination across security, development, and justice systems has turned manageable tensions into protracted instability that deters investment and diverts resources from human development.
Climate change has magnified every vulnerability. Floods, heatwaves, and droughts have become more frequent and severe, yet preparedness and adaptation remain underfunded and poorly coordinated. Where climate finance and institutional capacity could have buffered shocks, fragmentation and limited absorptive capacity left communities exposed. Environmental degradation—air pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss—persists not for lack of knowledge but for lack of sustained, accountable implementation.
The path forward requires urgent, concrete shifts. First, anchor growth in productivity and jobs through stable, predictable policy and investment in human capital. Second, scale transparent social protection that reaches the vulnerable quickly. Third, make climate resilience a national priority with risk-informed planning and local capacity. Each of these demands better governance: clear targets, reliable financing, and accountable institutions.
Our development story is not one of failure but of unfinished promise. The SDG rankings and the poverty reversal are warnings, not verdicts. If we confront them with courage, clarity, and institutional reform, Pakistan can reclaim momentum and turn commitments into lasting dignity for its people.
—The writer is Ex-Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority.
