Pakistan has slipped to 168th out of 193 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI), the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives informed the National Assembly on Friday.
In a written reply to MNA Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, the ministry noted that Pakistan’s ranking fell from 161 in 2020–21 and 164 in 2023–24 to 168 in the 2025 report. The decline was linked to ongoing macroeconomic pressures, the 2022 floods, low investment in health and education, a narrow tax base, and a high debt burden.
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani described the drop as “concerning,” highlighting that weak HDI indicators reflect persistent economic challenges. The federal government is working to improve education access by establishing Danish Schools under the Uraan Pakistan Programme, with more planned under the PSDP.
Separately, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani confirmed that revised rules for a strengthened whistleblower reward system are being finalized to support FBR reforms and broaden the tax base. He acknowledged that the salaried class bears a heavy tax burden and emphasized that efforts are underway to stabilize the economy and promote export-led growth.
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