The Economics of Sustainable Development

This article discusses the economics of sustainable development in Pakistan, focusing on the country's adoption of four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. It explores the strategic changes and projects implemented to address poverty, education, clean water, and affordable clean energy. The article highlights the significance of these global goals and their impact on the country's overall development and sustainability.

THE ECONOMICS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are famously
known as global goals to ensure the preservation of the environment in wholesome
manner by spreading prosperity and peace. UN is the universal organization that works
together to overcome the challenges and threats posed to the humanity under a
constructive framework. Their agenda 2030 is based on 17 key indicators and should
be followed by member nations for inclusive growth and overall development to
maintain sustainability. This poster is about the adoption of 4 SDGs by Pakistan, which
led the strategic planning to tackle poverty and education issues along with promotion
for clean water and affordable clean energy. It describes about the strategic changes
that has been adopted at the regional and national levels of this country to complete the
aims and objectives of UN-SDG.
SIGNIFICANCE OF GLOBAL GOALS
Overview: Pakistan was ranked on 122 place out of 157 countries in the SDG Index
2017 and must focus to bridge the gaps at the economic levels. The government laid
the foundation by applying few strategic changes such as establishment of SDG unit
and Punjab growth strategy 2018 to end poverty and other social inequalities for the
welfare of people effectively. Additionally, the UN agencies are providing the
necessary assistance to manage the capacities at both regional and national levels.
Importance: This is imperative to understand that implementation of SDGs in this
country would ultimately result in positive effects. Since Pakistan is plaguing with
terrorism and weak socioeconomic aspects, UN supportive hands would aid in better
future of these countrymen. Their education system is in struggling phase and need
proper treatment and thus requires substantial investments to lay concrete changes. The
situation of women is in worse conditions and people are deprived from the necessities
which lead to economic disparities. 82 percent populace are clueless about SDGs and
the other governmental interventions for their own good at both local and global scale
as well. Herein, the Planning Commission of Pakistan outlined Vision 2025
underpinning extensive considerations to gain advantages for the upliftment of the
entire community, especially the marginalized provinces for prevalence of economic
growth.
GOAL 1: POVERTY
Statistics: Surveys have claimed that the situation for women (70.40 %) and children
(66.20 %) are not good. Along with, unemployed people (62.4 %) are also more prone
to face poverty. In addition, UN statistics showed there are 736 million population are
below poverty line and out of which, 10 percent are under extreme poverty. This
country has been considered as one of the poverty stricken nations which are in need of
great attention from all the international regulated organisations like World Bank,
WHO, UNICEF etc. to revive their objective of no poverty agenda.
Projects for improvement: Since the budgetary system of Pakistan is archaic, there are
changes in the planning by formulating program such as Peoples Poverty Reduction
Program (PPRP). Recently, it has been launched in the six districts of Sindh province
that includes Sukkur, Benazirabad, Ghotki, rural UC's (union council) of Hyderabad
with Karachi. Moreover, there is another poverty reduction program that was launched
by the provincial government at UC level to minimise the poverty cases in another ten
districts. This is considered as one of the unique programs that shed light on the
empowerment of society, especially the local communities by adopting a social
mobilisation concept. Implementation: Sindh Rural Support Organization has played an
important role in establishing the fundamental pillars to eradicate poverty. Local
governmental authorities, NGO's and charities have started empowering women and
unemployed people to give them a pathway for earning livelihood. Moreover, the
European Union initiated a program called as 'Union Council and Community
Economic Strengthening Support' to bring improvements in the standard living of
people through investments of approximately eight billion. Along with, this initiative
would help in increasing the earnings of people through community funds and income
generating grants (IGG) which have been issued for the empowerment.
Impact: This brought awareness and promoted participation from all the local
communities that has been involved through selection. Illustration 1 clearly depicts the
poverty gaps and the changes after applying principles of Vision 2025 and UN SDG
that would lead to a road-map. It supports in attaining enhanced trajectory of
sustainable development.
REFERENCES
Padda, I.U.H. and Hameed, A., 2018. Estimating multidimensional poverty levels in rural Pakistan: A
contribution to sustainable development policies. Journal of Cleaner Production.197. pp.435-442.
Nazar, R., Chaudhry, I.S., Ali, S. and Faheem, M., 2018. Role Of Quality Education For Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGS). PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences.4(2).
Hassan, M., Afridi, M.K. and Khan, M.I., 2018. An overview of alternative and renewable energy
Impact: It has brought few infrastructural modifications in the restructuring part. The local
authorities formulated an outline to implement the Water and sanitation Services to
aforementioned the feasibilities in terms of socio-economic and technical aspects. Along
with, water quality would be checked and supervised to ensure public-private water
supplies are meeting the criteria and standards in proficient manner.
GOAL 4: AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY
Statistics: Reports have furnished that 60 % of greenhouse emissions are the major
participator to the changes in the climatic conditions of the world. Claims are there that
more than 60 % comes under the marginalised criteria because of inconsistent facilities of
electricity. Nonetheless, nearly fifty percent of its total population is vulnerable to changes
which are climatic related disasters. It has been ranked as 8th most impacted nations of the
world that is given by the latest Global Climate Risk Index conducted by Germanwatch's.
Projects for improvement: The government took initiatives to adopt strategic planning to
adopt clean and affordable energies. In the year 2013, the National Energy Policy briefly
demonstrated the need of comprehensive outlooks to fight for better, affordable and cleaner
energies to optimise the sustainable factor. Its first solar power plant was started in the year
2015 and was funded by Chinese. Danish and French companies have invested for the
promotion of renewable sources of energy that is wind energies. Moreover, US have
collaborated to develop a partnership for flourishing the clean energy under the renewable
energy groups to maintain the sustainable development growth at widespread scales.
Implementation: The government is giving incentives to promote the use of renewable
sources of energy. For instance, for solar imports and other producing industries, tax
exemptions have been considered and farmers are given interest free loans for purchasing
solar led tube wells. Subsequently, the transmission lines and related changes in the
physical structures have regulated the renewable energy markets proficiently which gained
momentum and ensured the most cost-efficient production of energy. For the same, the
Public Sector Development Program has been working consistently with amplifying the
need for a robust methodology to harness the clean energy technologies in all the provinces.
Moreover,
Impact: They are on the verge of attaining generation of renewable energy by 2030 under
the SDG with the government focusing on uninterrupted power supply. It has been achieved
in closing down industrial units due to several factors like escalated pollution levels,
more demand of supply etc. However, the focus is to generate understanding in moving to
greener technologies to sustain the ill-effects of thermal electricity. There is an alliance with
the stakeholders of public and private led organisations to engage them at all the provincial
levels. It aided in establishing an action plan to optimise the allocated resources with
fulfilment of electricity in all the regions.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized that Pakistan is on the constant and never-ending move
to follow, adopt and implement the sustainable development goals of the United Nations
under a composed framework in recent times. With the help of the government efforts,
people are getting aware and steadily this country is moving towards the path of minimising
the barriers related to poverty and affordable necessities of life for all the citizens. Parents
are becoming vigilant in sending their girls to schools, using renewable technologies to
minimise the pollution levels, using potable water through sustainable methods like
filtration, use of filters etc. Lastly, United Nations have taken up this initiative of SDG
which made developing nations like Pakistan to strive for macroeconomic stability and are
trying to overcome the barriers which have posed as menace in their country's progress at
the global level.
GOAL 2: EDUCATION
Statistics: In regard to imparting education at all the three levels, there is an astonishing
figure that demonstrated 1 in 4 girls do not go to school. Along with, 103 million of
youth are deprived from the literacy skills at basic level in all around the world. The
Government of Pakistan is known as Semi-Presidential Federal Democratic Republic
and henceforth, the girls’ education is in turmoil state. 22.5 million Kids are out of
school, out of which 32 % are girls and after middle school, 13 percent of girls only
continue their education.
Projects for improvement: The situation is very poor, the government spent less than
208 % of GDP on this sector and this system can be termed as malnourished. However,
with UN's initiative of SDG, their conservative approaches have been transformed.
Two major public-private partnership units are providing a legal and transparent
channels at Punjab and Sindh respectively. At governance level, there is need to
understand the gaps for such shortcomings like religious beliefs, adoption of
hybridisation which ridicule modern theories and principles, shorter supply of
secondary schools than primary and more.
Implementation: There is a basic transformation medium that involves seven targets
with usage of three means such as introduction of technological channels to create
productive environment, recruitment of trained and skilled professionals for teaching
and scholarships provision to gain attention from parents and encourage girls’
education. Currently, Higher Education Department started projects that emphasize on
reinventing libraries, improving infrastructure facilities, installing proper equipment
and materials required to have access to worldly affairs and also setting Reforms Units
at local levels. Also, an Economic Policy Research Institute has been established at
Abdul Wli Khan University in Mardan. With steady steps through investments from
the fiscal budget and collaboration from both federal and provincial governments, there
are slow developmental changes seen in this sector.
Impact: Pakistan Development Alliance highlighted the education advocacy at all the
levels of school and collaborated with universities to include the goals for engaging
people of all age groups towards strengthening constructive dialogues. It would
facilitate in overcoming the gaps and leading to plan an innovative strategic steps to
promote modern education. Along with, the hybridisation method is still prevalent and
must be discarded through collective efforts.
GOAL 3: CLEAN WATER
Statistics: UN's Goal 6 has provided facts that infer more than 40 percent of people are
water-scarce and are continuously on incremental direction. Also, 1000 children die on
daily basis due to lack of potable water and sanitation related diseases. Citizens of
Pakistan are consuming contaminated water in rural areas by 21 percent as compared to
urban areas access to clean water, which segregates to 98 percent. Thus, there is
inadequate water supply at municipal levels which indirectly hamper the health
standards and point at poor maintenance of sanitation.
Projects for improvement: The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has decided to take
updates in context to the progress evaluation of each province. Additionally, Planning
and Development Department has briefed the Chinese company named 'Sinohydro
Corporation Limited' regarding the Punjab Saaf Pani for proper water supply schemes
in Pattoki district and other such smaller contractual basis projects. Moreover, there is
an agenda to supply potable water by 2025 in all the provinces under the program
named as ADP (Annual Developmental Programme). It is their priority to provide
networks of this supply to all marginalised and poor communities.
Implementation: The foremost step is to maintain the surface water levels where
irrigation activities and unregulated contamination are the threats to the availability of
drinking water. Furthermore, the provincial government makes the policies and
participate in decision-making whereas the district governments are mainly dealing
with allocation of funds on the basis of identification, implementation and maintenance
of water supply systems at local levels under a legal framework. Here, funds are issued
by the district level authorities and are executed under the offices of PHED (Public
Health Engineering Department). Also, KR Environmental Protection Agencies would
collaborate in laying the foundation to fulfil SDG Goal 6.