Public discontent and alienation in Pakistan have intensified as the country of 241 million faces a complex mix of political instability, law and order challenges, and stagflation.

A recent surge in terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, combined with rising street crime and extreme weather conditions, including harsh summers and flash floods, has further compounded the strain on working families already struggling under a heavy economic burden.

As politicians and key institutions vie for power, shrinking opportunities and eroding trust in the government are driving the youth to look beyond Pakistan’s borders for a better future. This resulting brain drain leaves the country poorer, as it loses its best and the brightest to nations perceived to offer greater promise.

Meanwhile, investors are reportedly delaying expansion plans and hesitant to commit capital to new projects. Inflation, along with high taxes and utility costs, has squeezed families’ disposable incomes, affecting not just consumer markets but overall economic activity.

It is not surprising, then, that Pakistan has slipped nine places on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index 2024, now ranking 137th out of 166 countries, with a low score of 57.02. This is a decline from 128th position in 2023 and 125th in 2022. Data for Goal 10, ‘Reduced inequalities’, where the country was reportedly on track last year, is now unavailable. Of the remaining 16 goals, the situation has worsened in three, the country faces challenges in five, and there are significant problems in the remaining seven.

Pakistan’s SDG rank regresses from its 128th position in 2023 to 137 out of 166 countries in 2024

Regression has been reported in Goal 4 — Quality education, Goal 11 — Sustainable cities and communities, and Goal 16 — Peace, justice and strong institutions. Some progress, albeit with challenges, was noted in Goal 1 — Poverty reduction, Goal 7 — Affordable and clean energy, Goal 9 — Innovation and infrastructure, Goal 14 — Life below water, and Goal 17 — Partnership for goals.

Meanwhile, limited movement due to significant challenges was observed in Goal 2 — Zero hunger, Goal 3 — Health and wellbeing, Goal 5 — Gender equality, Goal 6 — Clean water and sanitation, Goal 8 — Decent work and economic growth, Goal 12 — Responsible consumption and production, Goal 13 — Climate action and Goal 15 — Life on land.

The Sustainable Development Goals Index and Dashboard, produced annually by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute of European Environmental Policy, serves as a report card for a country’s performance on the Global Development Agenda 2030.

The 2030 Agenda, adopted by all United Nations (UN) member states in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace, prosperity and sustainability, both now and in the future. The 17 SDGs acknowledge that ending poverty and other deprivations must be pursued alongside strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and promote economic growth, all while addressing climate change and preserving oceans and forests. They are a universal call to action.

Planning Minister Ehsan Iqbal attributed Pakistan’s persistent slide on the SDGs Index to the “2022 mega climate disaster, which set us back and erased the gains we had made.” He confirmed Pakistan’s participation in the UN Assembly sessions in September, including those focused on Global goals. “Yes, we will participate. There is no reason for not participating”, he stated in response to a query.

Senior sources in the federal Ministry of Planning have indicated that the 2024 national review of SDGs progress is underway and will be presented soon. However, they cautioned against expecting a comprehensive report based on the latest verified evidence.

“The new report will rely on the same data set used in the last review since current data is unavailable,” an officer involved in the report’s preparation disclosed. “The data used to track progress on SDG benchmark indicators is drawn from the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) and Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM), both conducted five years ago in 2018-19,” he added.

Pakistan’s corporate sector claims to be in the process of integrating SDGs into their business strategies. However, some argue that despite recognition from UN agencies, their efforts have not been adequately reflected in the government’s annual progress reports.

Ehsan Malik, CEO, Pakistan Business Council (PBC), highlighted his platform’s contributions: “In 2016, we established the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business to promote responsible business practices beyond our membership, drawing from global best practices.

Initially focused on the SDGs, we now operate with a broader environmental, social and governance lens. Many leading companies have committed to aligning their businesses with the SDGs, and we have developed a portal to showcase their progress.

“We engage with federal and provincial SDG units, and while the government provides annual data on specific metrics, Pakistan has submitted a Voluntary National Review (VNR) every two years since 2020. The 2022 VNR featured business actions by PBC members, and we will contribute to the 2024 report,” he said.

Abdul Aleem, Secretary General, Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), noted, “Our 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, based on the SDGs, was appreciated by a visiting UNDP team.

“OICCI and UNDP have signed an agreement to collaborate on various initiatives, and we plan to refine our investments aligned with the 17 SDGs, with a focus on gender diversity, climate change and environmental protection. However, we see little interest from the government in utilising the quality data produced by private stakeholders like OICCI members.”

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, September 2nd, 2024