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Human Development Index.
   The United Ntions have released its ranking of countries on the basis of human development index. Not very surprisingly Pakistan, the land of the pure, is ranked at number 142 out of 177 countries ranked. Last year we were 144th in the rank. The index is based on indicators such as GDP, health, population growth rate and education. It is a true indicator of a country's ability to provide its individuals with quality life ensuring them good health, necessary education and comfort in life. The concept of human development index is unique and was put forward by our very own economic genius Dr. Mehboob-ul-Haq. Pakistan, sadly, as this index shows lags behind in all these contexts. We can blame it on our Govt.s or ourselves but we lag behind many countries who are much smaller in size. We are far behind our neighbours like India(127), Sri Lanka(96), Nepal(140), Bhutan(134), Iran(101).
   All this inspite of the fact that we are the prime partners in crime with USA in its war against terror. We have been bestowed upon, supposedly, with all facilities and furnishes that an american friend gets. We are the front line state in this war and still this end. This also shows that Shaukat Aziz who keeps on harping that country's macroindicators are showing promising improvement is infact throwing dust in our eyes. The reality on the ground is much the same as before. Nothing has changed since the time the dictator came to power through illegal means of his.
Read the report here HDI 2004.

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