Sustainable Development in Unusual Times: Building Forward Better provides a comprehensive exploration of the intricate challenges and innovative solutions for the sustainable development of South Asia, with a central focus on Pakistan. Amidst an era marked by climatic adversities, geopolitical conflicts, and a global health crisis, this anthology serves as a pivotal reference, diving into multifaceted issues ranging from climate resilience and energy, trade, governance vulnerabilities to gender disparities and healthcare challenges.
The section on Environmental & Economic Paradigms addresses topics of climate resilience, renewable energy solutions, and forward-thinking trade policies for Pakistan. It underscores the potential of the Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) model and stresses the importance of climate diplomacy and Green Bond markets. Authors discuss energy insecurity and urge that while the sector is traversing through uncertain phases, strong domestic policy and regulatory support is essential for adopting a low carbon pathway and addressing both demand and supply side concerns. Finally, the use of innovative financial instruments, such as Catastrophe (CAT) Bonds, hinting at a promising avenue to reinforce sustainable agriculture and mitigate natural disaster risks; and the need to broaden the country’s trade vision, especially Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), are debated.
Governance Imperatives turns the lens to the profound societal impacts of public policy decisions. Authors conduct a deep dive of the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan and its implications, underscoring the importance of a well-structured, holistic refugee and asylum framework for Pakistan. Additionally, another chapter discusses the complexities of decentralisation stressing the latent promise of truly empowered local governments. The authors advocate for greater political ownership, adoption of best practices, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and enhancing public participation in decision-making to transform Pakistan’s governance landscape.
In the concluding section, Gender & Health Narratives, the anthology examines societal constructs and healthcare challenges. This section zeroes in on strategic solutions, to overcome deep-seated gender disparities, such as a transformative shift in the patriarchal mindset through media engagement, boosting women’s financial autonomy through interest-free loans, promoting their professional advancement with targeted tools and trainings, and promoting gender equality via educational reforms. The book then shifts its focus to the frequently neglected topic of rare diseases, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive healthcare policies, joint initiatives between the public and private sectors, community-centric healthcare strategies and prompt interventions in treating neurological ailments in Pakistan.
Written by the best and brightest minds, Sustainable Development in Unusual Times is not just a book, but a manifesto for change. It is a clarion call for collective action, an earnest invitation to rethink established paradigms, and a futuristic blueprint for ensuring a thriving, sustainable Pakistan