PAKISTAN is unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and this could adversely affect the region economically. The GDP growth rate in the country between 2000 and 2012 averaged 4.50 per cent but inequalities during the same period increased to 0.27 to 0.29.

The goals agreed by the country are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality rates, improving maternal health, combating HIV/Aids, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. In order to achieve these agreed MDGs, a practical solution needs to be adopted at the government and the provincial level, engaging the relevant stakeholders.

The role of individual philanthropists must be appreciated because their contributions provide assistance to the government in achieving these targets. One such institution, the Begum Mehmooda Welfare Trust, has been engaged in humanitarian activities for the last five years and helping the poor and neglected people living in rural parts of Islamabad and Khyer Pakhtunkhwa.

This trust is providing assistance in the shape of income, food, education, medical aid and dowry to the poor families.

As such institutions are also fighting poverty, their efforts must be recognised. There is a need for an inclusive development agenda to ensure sustainable economic development.

JAHANZEB KHAN Islamabad