ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank says that despite decades of sustained growth, 330 million people in Asia and the Pacific are still living on less than $1.90 a day.

Across the region, 2.7 billion people are still without access to safe drinking water although nine out of ten now have access to electricity, according to the Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific released on Thursday.

The Key Indicators 2016 report highlights the uneven though steady growth in the region, as well as the disparities between developing Asian and Pacific countries.

It presents key statistics on development issues concerning Asia and the Pacific and includes the latest available economic, financial, social, and environmental indicators for 48 regional members of ADB.

According to statistics, approximately 1.2bn people in Asia and the Pacific are below the poverty line of $3.10 a day. In 11 out of 18 economies of Asia and the Pacific with available data for recent years, the average income of the bottom 40 per cent grew faster than the average income of the general population.

The Asia and the Pacific remains the largest recipient region of foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2015, global FDI flows increased to $1.8 trillion while those of Asia and the Pacific surpassed $0.5tr

Total external debt of developing member economies in Asia and the Pacific increased from approximately $1.1tr in 2000 to $4.5tr based on latest data.

Asia and the Pacific’s energy production and use are rapidly expanding along with economic growth. The region accounts for roughly 45pc of global energy use according to latest available data. Since 2000, per capita electricity consumption rose by at least 50pc in 20 out of 41 developing member economies

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2016