1. Pakistan's Declining Human Development Index (HDI) and the Requisite Policy Reforms
- Author:
- Shehla Saleem Mughal and Zaheer Liaqat Baig
- Publication Date:
- 07-2024
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- South Asian Studies
- Institution:
- Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
- Abstract:
- This paper is an attempt to study the Human Development Index (HDI), its components and trend over the last ten years. It has strived to understand the relationship between policy choices adopted by the policy makers to devise economic policies and their impact on the standards of living or per capita income. Similarly, it has conducted to study how the budget expenditures in the health and education sectors in Pakistan impact the key human development indicators like life expectancy and average levels of education. At a time when Pakistan faces ongoing challenges in these sectors, understanding how public spending affects human development is not doubt, of critical importance for informed policymaking. The analysis focuses on secondary data obtained from government budget reports, health statistics, and education assessments. It examines trends in budget allocations and explores how differences in funding levels affect public health outcomes and educational attainment. Research highlights that, inadequate educational funding contributes to lower mean education levels while inadequate investment in health can lead to lower life expectancy rates. The key findings suggest that prioritizing public needs, in the form of increased public spending on health and education and provision of favorable environment for sustainable standard of living, is positively associated with improvements in life expectancy and educational outcomes. This relationship underscores the importance of prioritizing these sectors within national budget frameworks. The findings encourage the policy makers to understand that strategic investments in human capital are fruitful and yield long-term benefits for the economy and society. The study is significant as it emphasizes the need for efficient allocation of resources and calls for a shift in policy priorities to improve standard of living along with up-lifting the health and education services. Hence, the research serves as a valuable resource for advocacy groups seeking increased funding for these vital areas of human development in Pakistan. This study solicited for a adopting a comprehensive approach towards public policy and investment. Moreover, it intends to supplement the existing research by establishing a relationship between policy measures including human development indicators and budgetary expenditures with a special emphasis to improvement in standards of living and fostering social and economic progress in Pakistan.
- Topic:
- Development, Reform, Economic Policy, Human Development, and Budgeting
- Political Geography:
- Pakistan and South Asia