Ahsan Iqbal Announces 10-Year Plan to Fix Pakistan

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has pressed treating education, health, nutrition, clean drinking water and population expansion as a "national emergency" and declared that sustained, coordinated efforts over 10 years are needed to improve social indicators.

Key points

• Govt to Punish Car Makers for Missing Export Targets Under New 5-Year Policy.
• Around 26 million children, or 28 percent of the school-age population cited in the briefing, were out of school.
• Planning Minister remarked the 18th Amendment had been intended to improve social services, but the failure to devolve authority to the local level had limited progress.
• The session additionally discussed a federal and provincial coordination structure linked to the National Population Council, chaired by the prime minister.
• The minister remarked achieving the 11 national economic missions would require the same commitment and hard work Pakistan had demonstrated in completing its nuclear program.

Speaking at the first session of the Human Capital and Skills Mission under the Uraan Pakistan framework on October 7, the minister stressed the need to transfer powers to district governments so basic services could reach residents at their doorsteps.

In practice, the mission is one of 11 national economic missions approved under the framework. Supreme Court Restores Promotion Benefits for Elementary Teachers.

He remarked Pakistan needed policy continuity and political stability to achieve its long-term development goals. When it marks 100 years of independence, and remarked Pakistan must now win the "battle for development" with the same determination it had shown in its military campaign, he asked where the country would stand in 2047.

He continued that investment in human capital and skills would form the foundation of the country's future expansion.

For context, a briefing at the session highlighted Pakistan's human development challenges. While its Human Capital Index score stood at 0.41, indicating that a child born in Pakistan could achieve only 41 percent of their potential productivity, the country ranked 168th among 193 countries on the Human Development Index.

While maternal mortality stood at 186 deaths per 100, 000 live births, compared with the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70, child stunting affected 40.2 percent of children, the highest rate in the region.

Around 26 million children, or 28 percent of the school-age population cited in the briefing, were out of school. Of every 100 children entering first grade in public schools, only 46 reached grade 10. Literacy rates ranged from 68 percent in Punjab to 49 percent in Balochistan. IMF Agreement on $1.2 Billion Accord Anticipated.

In practice, the briefing additionally highlighted gaps in workforce participation and skills. Women's labor force participation stood at 22.7 percent, compared with 68.7 percent for men. While only around 11 percent of individuals received technical and vocational training, some 45.4 percent of young women were not in education, employment or training.

Regarding 2 million young residents enter the labor market each year. According to The briefing additionally, national immunization coverage had risen to 81.3 percent.

Planning Minister remarked the 18th Amendment had been intended to improve social services, but the failure to devolve authority to the local level had limited progress. He argued that provincial secretaries could not effectively address the needs of entire provinces and pressed empowered district institutions, administrative reforms and stronger governance in education, health and other social sectors.

He remarked the administration needed to move beyond planning and focus on implementation, with federal ministries and provincial governments responsible for delivering results.

While provinces would lead implementation in sectors largely under their jurisdiction, the federal government's role would center on setting standards, coordinating policies, session international commitments, managing fiscal discussions and consolidating data.

Under the Uraan Pakistan framework, the mission intends to reduce maternal mortality by 35 percent, cut child stunting and under-five mortality by 18 percent each, raise births attended by skilled personnel to 85 percent, rise education spending to 4 percent of gross domestic product, improve literacy by 10 percent, create 1.5 million jobs annually and growth women's labor force participation by 17 percent.

While raising health spending to 2 percent of GDP, the proposed monitoring framework would additionally include population indicators such as the total fertility rate and contraceptive prevalence rate. National targets would be broken down into annual, provincial and regional milestones to track progress.

Notably, the session additionally discussed a federal and provincial coordination structure linked to the National Population Council, chaired by the prime minister.

Working groups covering education, health and population, and skills would bring together relevant departments, planning and development bodies, finance departments and development partners.

Meanwhile, a separate thematic group would focus on nutrition. The groups would meet every two weeks to address implementation barriers, review progress and align federal and provincial development spending with the mission's priorities.

For context, the minister remarked achieving the 11 national economic missions would require the same commitment and hard work Pakistan had demonstrated in completing its nuclear program. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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