Balochistan, KP face highest vulnerability in Pakistan’s first District Vulnerability Index

A new government report has raised alarms about the stark development divide across Pakistan, revealing that the majority of the country’s most vulnerable districts are located in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

According to The Express Tribune, launched by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadaq Malik, the report, based on the District Vulnerability Index for Pakistan (DVIP), sheds light on the wide disparities in human development across the provinces. While Punjab fares relatively better, Balochistan, in particular, faces significant challenges, with 17 out of the 20 most vulnerable districts situated there.

Dr. Malik highlighted that Balochistan’s vulnerability is compounded by issues like limited access to health services, education, and basic infrastructure. “Even the best districts do not have a good standing, and the worst part is that 17 out of the 20 most vulnerable districts are in Balochistan,” he said.

According to the report, Balochistan has areas where more than 65% of the population lives in makeshift houses, half lack toilet facilities, and 40% have no access to improved drinking water sources. These findings illustrate the systemic weaknesses affecting even the better-performing districts nationwide.

In contrast, Punjab—home to many of the least vulnerable districts—has more access to basic services and infrastructure. Of the 20 least vulnerable districts, 13 are in Punjab.

The District Vulnerability Index uses six domains—housing, transport, livelihoods, access to health services, access to education, and demographics—to measure a district’s exposure to social, economic, and environmental risks. The report identifies a particularly worrying lack of access to safe water, education, and secure housing, which are fundamental rights, not privileges, according to Dr. Malik.

In K-P and Balochistan, high unemployment rates and precarious livelihoods contribute to the region’s vulnerability. These provinces, particularly K-P, are also severely impacted by post-conflict instability and the ongoing effects of terrorism, which has contributed to the fragile state of infrastructure and livelihoods.

The education domain of the report also highlighted Karachi’s dominance in primary and secondary school density, with Balochistan suffering from poor educational infrastructure, as schools are far from most communities. Long travel distances and low school density exacerbate vulnerability, especially for rural residents.

Climate change remains a key concern as extreme weather events—such as floods, droughts, and temperature extremes—affect already vulnerable regions, further worsening conditions for districts in Balochistan and K-P.

The report’s findings underscore the urgency for targeted intervention and the redistribution of resources to address the growing inequality across Pakistan’s regions. The need to incorporate climate risk and economic vulnerability into policymaking is clear as Pakistan looks to bridge these development gaps.