May 12, 2006	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, May 11: Pakistan spends only 2.3 per cent of its Gross National Income (GNI) on education as compared to 3.6 per cent in South Asia and 3.4 per cent in low-income countries, according to the “Little green data book 2006” launched by the World Bank.

These indicators show the country is not placed comfortable in terms of public sector spending on education. Education, which is of paramount importance for human resource development, is the most neglected area in Pakistan. There are about 20 million children between five and nine years of age. But only about half of them are currently enrolled in primary school. And little girls make up much less than half of that number, according to the figures.

The country’s gross savings stand at 23.6 per cent of the Gross National Income (2004), while the consumption of fixed capital is 8.2 per cent of GNI, says the data book which represents a succinct collection of information from ‘world development indicators 2006’.

However, on a positive note, the book states that 90 per cent of the country’s total population has access to improved water sources as compared to 84 per cent in South Asia. The data shows 87 per cent of rural population and 95 per cent of urban population have access to improved water sources.

However, only 54 per cent of the total population has access to improved sanitation facilities. In urban areas this facility is available to 92 per cent while only 35 per cent of the rural population have these facilities.

Agricultural land covers 33 per cent of the land area as compared to 54 per cent in South Asia and 45 per cent in low- income countries. However, irrigated land covers 90.6 per cent of the cropland.

The publication presents a bleak picture of the state of forestry in the country. It shows the total forest area at 2.5 per cent of the land area, while annual deforestation is estimated to be 1.6 per cent.

The total known number of bird species in the country is 625, while the number of threatened bird species is 30. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) benefits index for biodiversity is calculated at 5.1 out of the prescribed range (0-100).

About the number of passenger cars in Pakistan, it says there are seven cars per 1,000 people. Carbon dioxide emission per capita is 0.7 metric tons.

The electric power consumption per capita is 408 kwh. The figure for energy import is highest in the region. It says 20 per cent of the net energy needs are met through import. Only 0.2 per cent of electricity is generated by coal.

The internal freshwater resources per capita has been measured at 345 cubic metres as compared to 1,255 per capita cubic metres in South Asia and 3,456 in the low income countries.