Pakistan

Pakistan has made significant development progress since its independence 59 years ago, as measured by some key social indicators: health and education services have expanded and improved, and life expectancy has increased from 59 years in 1990 to 64 for males and 66 for females in 2004.

Poverty remains a serious concern in Pakistan. A large segment of the population lives in poverty. Poverty rates, which had fallen substantially in the 1980s and early 1990s, started to rise again toward the end of the decade.

To meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 of achieving universal primary education and gender parity, continued focus will be required to implement education reforms, especially targeting rural areas and females, with intensive monitoring of outcomes.

Low contraceptive use and increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS among vulnerable population subgroups continue to pose significant challenges. Meeting the MDGs by 2015 (including reduction of infant and child mortality by two thirds and maternal mortality by three quarters) will require building upon the above improvements and renewed efforts to expand coverage in rural areas with a focus on maternal health services and enhancing existing to combat HIV/AIDS epidemic.

In 2006, Transparency International rates corruptions impact on NGOs as moderately high (3.4 out of 5).

Sources:

http://www.worldbank.org.pk
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/gcb/2006
http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/index.asp?theme=hea&id=586