Pakistan

Canada's Commitment
Results
Country Profile

Canada's Commitment

Canada has supported social and economic development in Pakistan for more than forty years. In the early years, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) supported building economic infrastructure and increasing agricultural production; however, over the past decade, the assistance program has focused on strengthening governance, improving gender equality, and building partnerships in key areas such as human and social development.

A major focus for CIDA's program in Pakistan is to promote the role of women by improving their access to health care, education, and income opportunities; to support them in their new roles in local politics; and to assist them in their advocacy work with the government and the general public. CIDA also supports the Government of Pakistan's devolution program, helping develop policies and implement programs that benefit the poor, fostering public participation, and sensitizing local governments to community needs and priorities.

With poverty reduction as its overarching goal, CIDA is concentrating its program of assistance on:

• democratic local governance
• social development (basic education and primary health care, including HIV/AIDS)
• equality between women and men

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Results

CIDA's approach of supporting the development of community-based organizations, especially among ethnic minorities, women, and other marginalized groups, has enabled these organizations to deliver essential social services, improve the standard of living of their communities, and participate more actively and effectively in local governance. In northern Pakistan, CIDA support has been instrumental in sharply reducing poverty, improving educational attainment, and raising health standards.

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Country Profile

The development challenges facing Pakistan-social, economic, and political-are immense, and the destabilizing effects of the global security situation have increased pressures within the country. Pakistan still struggles with high rates of infant, child and maternal mortality.

Forty-six million people, or 29 percent of the population, live in absolute poverty. Only 52 percent of the adult population can read. Primary school dropout rates are 44 percent for boys and 65 percent for girls, and few of either gender go on to secondary school.

Recent strong economic growth provides the opportunity for Pakistan to reduce poverty and improve social development indicators.