Pakistan got to 150, in the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings. That is a leap of all of one place in the rankings from the previous exercise. The UN’s latest Human Development Report is a damning indictment of the unforgivable neglect spanning over decades. But the indictment comes every year. Gets some press, and the human development takes a backstage in less than a week’s time.

Pakistan’s HDI value stood at 0.562, inching only at the third decimal place from 0.560 in 2016. For perspective, only Cameroon stands between Pakistan and its going back to the low human development category from the current medium human development.

In an increasingly competitive and connected world, it is painful to see that the progress, if could be called that, has come at a snail’s pace. Pakistan’s growth in the HDI values this decade is under 1 percent at 0.95. Want more perspective, the country’s growth in HDI values is not only lower than South Asia’s 1.26, medium development category’s 1.13, and Sub Saharan Africa’s 1.09. It is not fighting hard to compete with 0.93 of the low human development category. Adjust the HDI for inequality, and Pakistan loses one ranking place and several rating points.

What continues to be the most worrying aspect of the whole story is the dismal state of affairs in the education sector. Granted, there have been noted improvements in some select areas and in a few select categories, but the pace of progress is painfully slow – and at this rate Pakistan will continue to be teamed up with the likes of Angola, Sudan and Chad.

Consider this for some shock (and shame). The expected years of schooling in Pakistan comes at 8.6 with mean years of schooling at 5.2 years. This is some progress from 7.8 years of expected schooling in 2013. But in terms of global, regional, peer group comparison – the picture is appalling. The average expected years of schooling in the medium development category are 12. Given that Pakistan is barely hanging on to the category and is in danger of entering the low category, the low value is painfully understandable.

But Pakistan’s expected years of schooling value is also lower than the average score of low human development category.

South Asian average is 11.9; Sub Saharan Africa’s is also in the double digits. The least developed countries also average a few decimal points better than Pakistan. Yes, the education is a provincial subject and all that – but the country has seen rather smooth political transitions in the last decade and with continuity and stability in the two major provinces. And if these numbers do not shame those at the helm – nothing will.
There is more to the report than just the education dire straits, and that will be discussed in the days to come. The usual slippages in gender balance and abysmal health facilities also continue to hamper Pakistan’s position in the HDI. It almost sounds rhetorical, but if Pakistan even dreams of a slightest chance to be competitive and to lift the people up from the abyss – business as usual won’t do. It clearly has not worked up till now- any reason to believe it will in the future.