November 18, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
The government released a new report showing that human development in Pakistan is mostly concentrated in Punjab, which is the only province with no district falling in the “most vulnerable” category. In contrast, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have the highest levels of vulnerability and unemployment.
The findings highlight the need to transfer financial resources directly to districts. According to the report, the current system—where provincial capitals hold most of the control over resources—is increasing the number of people living in vulnerable conditions.
The UK-funded District Vulnerability Index for Pakistan (DVIP), prepared by the Pakistan Population Council, illustrates that most districts in the highest vulnerability category are in Balochistan, while districts in Punjab fall in the least vulnerable category. The index examines six areas: housing, communication, transport, livelihoods, healthcare access, education access, and demographics. It measures how exposed districts across the country are to social, economic, and environmental challenges. The report notes that even districts performing relatively well still face structural weaknesses.
The climate minister, Dr. Musadik Malik, said that around 10 million people—about 11.3% of Pakistan’s population—live in the 20 most vulnerable districts. Of these, roughly 2 million are women of reproductive age, and a similar number are children under five. More than half of this vulnerable population is in Balochistan, where over 40% of the province’s residents fall into the highest-risk category.
The findings aim to fill gaps by developing an index that includes types of vulnerability that are usually not considered in Pakistan’s district-level analysis. It uses established social vulnerability models and adapts them to Pakistan.
Of the 20 least vulnerable districts, 13 are in Punjab, 4 in Sindh, 2 in K-P, and none in Balochistan. Meanwhile, among the 20 most vulnerable districts, 17 are in Balochistan, two are in K-P, one is in Sindh, and none are in Punjab.
The most vulnerable districts include Washuk, Khuzdar, Zhob, Kohlu, Musakhel, Dera Bugti, Killa Saifullah, Kalat, Seerani, Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Chagai, Barkhan, Harani, Awaran, Kharan, and Panjgur from Balochistan. North Waziristan and Kohistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Tharparkar from Sindh.
The climate minister, Musadiq Malik, said that the report highlights a troubling reality about basic public services: “We have never seriously questioned why getting safe drinking water is still so hard. Clean water, education, and secure housing are not optional benefits—they are basic rights,” the climate minister stated.
The housing domain looks at the percentage of mud houses, lack of toilets, poor water sources, and single-room homes. In the 20 worst-performing districts, over 65% of people live in makeshift structures, half have no toilets, and 40% do not have access to improved water sources.
The transport domain measures the average distance from villages to paved roads and transport services. According to the report, many neighbouring districts lack easy access to roads, transport, or telephone services.
In the livelihood domain—based on dependence on agriculture, unpaid family work, and unemployment—15 of the 20 worst-ranked districts are in Balochistan. K-P and Balochistan also have the highest unemployment rates and the largest numbers of unpaid family workers, showing how fragile livelihoods are in these areas. Both provinces also rank poorly in access to health services due to limited healthcare facilities and weak community outreach. The report shows major differences in health access between their districts.
In education, the finding notes that Karachi has the highest number of primary and higher secondary schools, partly because of its large population. The most vulnerable districts, mainly in Balochistan, have low school density and long travel distances to educational institutions, a situation made worse by poor transportation.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was also present alongside the Climate Minister on the occasion and said that the effects of rapid population growth can be seen in ongoing human development problems such as child stunting, low learning levels, and a workforce that lacks the skills needed for the future.
He added that climate change is further worsening conditions by exposing communities to extreme heat, floods, droughts, and environmental damage. According to the finance minister, these impacts are felt most intensely in districts that are already dealing with poverty, poor infrastructure, and limited basic services.