UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan retained the last year’s ranking at 146 among the 187 countries listed on UN’s Human Development Index 2013(HDI).

The ranking is worked out by combining life expectancy, education and income.

The HDI forms part of the Human Development Report (HDR) 2014, a flagship study produced annually by the UNDP. The report was released in Tokyo on Thursday entitled: “Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing vulnerabilities and Building Resilience” is 23rd in a series which began in 1990. The first HDR was prepared and launched under the leadership of the late Dr Mahbubul Haq, a former Pakistan finance minister.

The HDR notes that over 200 million people were affected by natural disasters and 45 million, the largest number in 18 years, were displaced by conflicts by the end of 2012. These factors contributed to denting the improvement in human development.

India stepped up to 135, Bangladesh by four steps to 142, Sri Lanka ranked at 73 from last year’s 92, Maldives one up to 103, Nepal rose to 145 from 157, and Bhutan four steps up to 140.

Norway stayed on top of the list because of its best quality of life followed by Australia and Switzerland.Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Chad and Mozambique were at the bottom.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2014