Pakistan has not been able to achieve any of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aimed at eradicating poverty and bringing improvement in lives through implementation and achievement of these goals. Although World Development Report 2011, titled ''Conflict, Security and Development'', has not enlisted Pakistan among low-income fragile or conflict affected countries, which were not able to achieve even a single MDG.
The analysis of selected world development indicators 2011 showed that Pakistan has been lagging far behind in the region in terms of MDGs, and has not been able to achieve even a single goal so far. Under the MDGs targets, Pakistan, as well as other countries, had committed to reduce, by half, the number of people living in absolute poverty by 2015; ensure access to primary education to all children; promote gender equality and empowerment to women and two-thirds reduction in number of children that die before their fifth birthday.
Under MDG targets, it is mandatory for the signatory to reduce, by 2015, three-quarters the number of women that die during childbirth, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, reverse environmental degradation by ensuring that the countries originate, and implement, ''green strategies by developing global partnership for development.
Analysis of the data showed that national poverty line has been increasing in Pakistan, while declining in other regional countries. Vulnerable employment rate was as high as 62 percent of total employment in the country. According to 2008 statistics on employment and prevalence of malnutrition among the children below 5 years age was 31.3 percent, and under five years mortality rate was 87 children per 1000. The maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births has been 260 and incidence of tuberculosis was 230 persons per 100,000.
Pakistan''s performance in achieving universal primary education was also very dismal as only 60 percent of the total enrolled student could barely complete primary schooling. The enrolment ratio of girls in primary and secondary schools was relatively better, with 80 percentage points, but this percentage was well below the region.
The report stated that no low-income fragile or conflict affected country has yet achieved a single MDG, and people in these countries are more than twice as likely to be undernourished as compared to those in other developing countries. The gist of the report was that strengthening institutions and governance was to provide citizen security, justice and employment is crucial to break the cycle of violence and ensuring development.