Pakistan climbs three places on UN's development index

• HDI is a composite of statistics measuring various factors.
• First HDR prepared in 1990 under Pakistan's finance minister.
• Switzerland tops this year’s rankings, followed by Norway.

Pakistan's ranking on the 2022-23 Human Development Index (HDI) witnessed slight improvement as the country was ranked 161st position among 191 countries, according to a new UN Development Programme (UNDP) report.

The HDI is a composite of statistics measuring such factors as per capita income, educational attainment and life expectancy.

In the last (2021/22) HDI ranking, Pakistan was placed at 164, amid global fall in development set off by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first UNDP Human Development Report (HDR) was prepared and launched in 1990 under the leadership of the late Dr Mahbubul Haq, a former Pakistani finance minister.

The latest report, ‘Breaking the gridlock’, revealed widening disparities between the haves and the have-nots, despite record-high global human development scores in 2023.

The 2023 HDI stands at a new high following a steep decline during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report said.

Rich countries experienced unprecedented development, the Human Development Report details, yet half of the world’s poorest nations continue to languish below their pre-COVID crisis levels.

India ranked at 132nd on the HDI index; Sri Lanka: 73rd; Bangladesh: 129th; Maldives: 90; Nepal: 143; Bhutan 127 and Afghanistan 180.

Switzerland tops this year’s rankings, followed by Norway and Iceland, while Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan and Somalia lagged the furthest behind.

“The widening human development gap revealed by the report shows that the two-decade trend of steadily reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations is now in reverse,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“Despite our deeply interconnected global societies, we are falling short. We must leverage our interdependence as well as our capacities to address our shared and existential challenges and ensure people’s aspirations are met,” he added, noting a significant human toll behind the statistics.

“The failure of collective action to advance action on climate change, digitalisation or poverty and inequality not only hinders human development but also worsens polarisation and further erodes trust in people and institutions worldwide.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the stark findings revealed by the Human Development Report, noting that while it explored the roots of polarisation and the “devastating” impact on sustainable development, it also demonstrated “our best hope for the future.”

“It calls for the urgent expansion of our systems of international cooperation, so that they can deliver on people’s priorities: sustainable development; a clean environment; a liveable planet; safety, security, and dignity for all,” the UN chief said.

He also emphasised the importance of the Summit of the Future, due to take place in September.

“As we prepare for the Summit, I recommend the Human Development Report as an important contribution. It shows that solutions to global problems are within our grasp – by reimagining cooperation and uniting for a better world,” he added.

The Human Development Report also identified an emerging “democracy paradox”, with most of those surveyed expressed support for democracy but also endorsing leaders who may undermine democratic principles.

This paradox, coupled with a sense of powerlessness and a lack of control over government decisions, has fuelled political polarisation and inward-looking policy approaches.

This is particularly alarming in light of 2023’s record-breaking temperatures which highlight the immediate need for united action to tackle the climate crisis, combined with the new and fast-evolving technological frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has few regulatory guard rails, UNDP said.

UNDP head Achim Stiner further highlighted that in a world marked by increasing polarisation and division, “neglecting to invest in each other poses a serious threat to our wellbeing and security”.

“Protectionist approaches cannot address the complex, interconnected challenges we face, including pandemic prevention, climate change, and digital regulation,” he said.

He added that interconnected problems require interconnected solutions.

“By adopting an opportunity-driven agenda that emphasises the benefits of the energy transition and of Artificial Intelligence for human development, we have a chance to break through the current deadlock and reignite a commitment to a shared future.”