The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released its most recent report, which places Pakistan at 161st place out of 191 countries, an advancement of three places in the global Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.
Its previous ranking of 164th in the 2021/22 report has improved from this, amid a worldwide decrease in development linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The HDI is a comprehensive measure that includes factors including life expectancy, educational achievement, and per capita income.
The Human Development Report initially appeared in 1990 with assistance from the late Dr. Mahbubul Haq, a former finance minister of Pakistan. Its goal is to shed light on trends in world development.
Despite reaching record-high worldwide human development scores in 2023, the most recent report, titled “Breaking the Gridlock,” shows increasing disparities between various socioeconomic groups.
Developed nations have grown significantly, yet half of the world’s poorest countries are still facing problems that have gotten worse since the Covid-19 pandemic.
India (ranked 132nd), Sri Lanka (ranked 73rd), Bangladesh (ranked 129th), Maldives (ranked 90th), Nepal (ranked 143rd), and Bhutan (ranked 127th) all rank more highly on the South Asian HDI than Pakistan. Afghanistan is ranked 180th.
This year’s rankings are significant for having Switzerland at the top, followed by Norway and Iceland, and countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic (CAR) in the rear.
India (ranked 132nd), Sri Lanka (ranked 73rd), Bangladesh (ranked 129th), Maldives (ranked 90th), Nepal (ranked 143rd), and Bhutan (ranked 127th) all rank higher in the South Asian HDI than Pakistan. Afghanistan is ranked 180th.
This year’s rankings are notable for having Switzerland at the top, followed by Norway and Iceland, and countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic (CAR) in the rear.
The UNDP’s administrator, Achim Steiner, expressed concern over the widening disparity between rich and poor nations’ levels of human development, emphasizing the urgent need for international cooperation to address global concerns.
These views were mirrored by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who emphasized the value of international cooperation in accomplishing sustainable development goals.
The Human Development Report also notes a “democracy paradox,” in which affirmation of leaders who might subvert democratic values coexists with support for democracy. Political polarization and inward-looking policy initiatives have been fostered by this contradiction, as well as feelings of helplessness and government control.
The research paper highlights the importance of concerted efforts to mitigate climate change and control technological breakthroughs against the backdrop of record-breaking temperatures in 2023 and the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Achim Steiner, the head of UNDP, highlighted the need to invest in integrated solutions to address difficult global issues and promote a shared future.
