Pakistan National Human Development Report 2020

UNDP launched its third Pakistan National Human Development Report, entitled ‘The three Ps of inequality: Power, People, and Policy’, authored by Dr. Hafiz Pasha.

The report highlights why studying inequality is important for Pakistan, and how this issue has affected the country’s economic and social progress. It discusses how, despite the Constitution of Pakistan upholding equality and despite global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals, there appear to be two different Pakistans – one for the rich, with access to the best avenues and opportunities, and one for the poor, who have a narrow pool of choices.

The NHDR 2020 follows UNDP’s global Human Development Report (HDR) of 2020, entitled ‘The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene’, which highlights how people who have more are able to better capture the benefits of nature and export the costs onto those who have less. To this end, the HDR aims to dismantle ‘the gross imbalances of power and opportunity that prevent change’ in the world today. Pakistan’s NHDR 2020 has similar goals, looking at power differentials through a socioeconomic perspective rather than a purely environmental one.

In doing this, the report outlines its framework of the three drivers of inequality in Pakistan: Power, People, and Policy. It shows how these drivers interact to create myriad inequalities in the country; some overt and structural, others subtle and social.

The NHDR 2020’s reform agenda for tackling inequality provides a sustainable blueprint for the creation of equal opportunities nationwide. However, inequality alleviation must begin immediately if Pakistan hopes to compete with its global partners in the race to attain equality in opportunities, capabilities, and outcomes. 

Life changing stories

We work collectively with Pakistan's people and government on developing & supporting nationally-driven solutions to challenges & improving livelihoods.

What exactly do we do and who is involved? Take a look at the people we work with and projects we do in Pakistan.

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UNDP in Pakistan: Annual Report 2019

In 2019, UNDP continued its decades-long partnership with the government and people of Pakistan, finding and implementing sustainable solutions to improve governance, increase resilience, protect the environment and sustain development. We do this as part of the United Nations System, working together as One UN to support Pakistan's vision to improve the lives of all its people.

The year 2019 brought new challenges for Pakistan and for UNDP's work in the country. Pakistan experienced challenging economic conditions as growth slowed to 3.3% and the exchange rate depreciated, austerity measures were introduced in the context of structural reforms. This posed challenges for Pakistan's largest-ever generation of young people now entering the workforce. 

In this context, we supported the government in taking bold steps to meet its challenges. This year saw the launch of the Prime Minister's Kamyab Jawan programme, a youth development initiative which  Read more. . . 

CLICK HERE to download the pdf report

What we do

UNDP is working with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, national partners and the people of Pakistan to help find solutions to persistent development challenges.

We work to build lasting institutional capacity, provide technical expertise to improve development outcomes, and help link the Government and people of Pakistan to innovative global solutions in areas such as improved data quality and collection, better environmental management, climate change finance and adaptation, strong and accountable governance mechanisms and capacities to respond effectively to conflict and disasters.

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