We are committed to empowering people at the lower end of the economic income. Asad

ISLAMABAD ( Web News )

UNDP Pakistan held a webinar entitled “People as Drivers of Inequality: Leaving No One Behind”. This was based on UNDP Pakistan’s National Human Development Report 2020: The Three Ps of Inequality: Power, People, and Policy, launched by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Mr. Imran Khan, in April of this year.

Moderated by UNDP Pakistan Assistant Resident Representative, Ms. Ammara Durrani, the session explored the role of ‘people’ in creating inequality in the country. Federal Minister Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Mr. Asad Umar, was the chief guest of the debate, with panelists including Associate Professor of Economics, LUMS, Dr. Faisal Bari; human rights lawyer, former parliamentarian and member of PML-N, Ms. Mary Gill; Associate Professor of Political Economy, Quaid-e-Azam University, Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar; and Social Science Researcher, Ms. Nazish Brohi.

Speaking of the government’s focus on inequality alleviation in the country, Federal Minister Planning, Mr. Asad Umar spoke about the difference between horizontal and vertical inequality. He highlighted the government’s Ehsaas programme as a key component that aims to alleviate vertical inequality in the country through its social protection initiatives. The Minister stated, “We are committed to empowering people at the lower end of the economic income spectrum, and coming up with policies which allow wealth creation, asset ownership, skill development, and employment generation across the board.”

UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative, Mr. Knut Ostby, welcomed the speakers and participants. “Today’s webinar explores people-centered inequalities that exist in Pakistan, with a special focus on the country’s vulnerable communities,” said Mr. Ostby, highlighting it as an important focus for UNDP to achieve the promise of Agenda 2030: To Leave No One Behind.

“’Two different Pakistans’ show the extent of inequality in Pakistan where huge disparity in the incomes and Human Development values are most pronounced in Sindh and Balochistan provinces,” observed Dr. Hafiz Pasha, renowned economist, former federal minister, and lead author of the NHDR 2020 on Inequality.

“Not only has Balochistan the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) value in Pakistan, but it is also the only province that has seen a decline in its per capita income,” stated Dr. Pasha while presenting the Report’s data at the inaugural virtual session of The Pakistan Inequality Debates series kick-started by UNDP Pakistan. Dr. Pasha also explained that higher growth is generally accompanied by higher inequality, which leads to a stronger need to focus on policies that lead to sustainable and inclusive growth.

The speakers of the debate engaged in a wide-ranging discussion covering the role of power and politics in perpetuating inequality; discrimination faced by minority and marginalized communities; the need to restructure education towards a fairer social order; political-economic fallout of systemic land and wealth dispossession and shrinking of the middle class; and how women are becoming game changers in Pakistan’s socio-economic and political processes against all odds.

Comprising a series of national, provincial and regional advocacy events, UNDP’s Pakistan Inequality Debates will be held throughout the year. It will engage policymakers, thought leaders, civil society actors, media representatives and other stakeholders to inform and advocate for policy reform on inequality and inclusion.

The NHDR 2020 on Inequality can be viewed here.