As an indicator of poverty, 40 % of households
received only I 8 % of total income (I 994-85). Only 37 % of the adult
population were literate in 1994. This is below the average of 42
% for South Asia and 60 % for third world countries. Availability
of health services is limited to 55 % of the population, safe water
to 45 % and sanitation to 20% of the population (1985-88, UNDP Balanced
Development Report, 1992 p.2). With its human development indicators,
Pakistan ranks 120th out of 160 countries and clearly falls in the
low human development category.
Pakistan's
per capita GNP was $430 in 1993 - approximately on a par with China,
above India and Bangladesh and below the Philippines and Indonesia.
Pakistan's per capita GDP was $460 in 1993, of which 25 % was contributed
by agriculture (including forestry and fishing), 25 % by industry
and 50% by utilities, construction, trade and services.
In 1991-92, about 47 % of the employed labor force were working
in agriculture (including forestry. and fishing) as against 24 %
in industry (including mining and quarrying), and 29 % in utilities,
construction and trade.
Pakistan's economic performance has been impressive
during the last decade. The GNP growth rate has averaged 6 per cent.
Agricultural production has increased at the rate of 4,3 per cent,
while the manufacturing sector has expanded annually by 7,2 per
cent. Per capita income has increased by over 2 per cent per annum
and the proportion of households below the poverty line has declined.
The economic performance of Pakistan has not
been achieved without producing significant social distortions and
considerable damage to the environment. Consequently, a number of
infrastructural bottlenecks have emerged especially in power, transport
and communications. Municipal investments have also lagged behind
and the quality of service provision has declined. This adversely
affected the quality of life in the urban areas. Levels of pollution,
congestion, crime and violence have increased in most of the metropolitan
cities. Simultaneously, there has been little improvement in social
indicators like the literacy rate, infant mortality rate and life
expectancy.
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