Exploring Pakistan’s Progress towards the Achievement of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Abstract

This study focuses on contributing to the field of conflict and peace studies, with special focus on sustainable development goals and presence of robust institutions in the Pakistan. In recent times, a sharp increase has been observed throughout the world when it comes to violent conflicts, moreover, it has been predicted that by 2030, 62% of the population living below poverty line would be in the nations having rates of crime and violence. In order to address the various braided vulnerabilities, focused actions are required. This study focuses on analyzing the fact that in the absence of peace and security, sustainable development will be difficult to achieve, thereby, jeopardizing peace and security of the country. This research examines the progress of ―Sustainable Development Goal‖ (SDG) number 16 that is ―peace, justice and strong institutions‖ inside Pakistan. It explores the functionality of enabling mechanisms towards the achievement of goal 16. It further identifies the hindrances in accomplishing all of the targets of this goal and provides relevant policy recommendations. Peace is a crosscutting issue in the 2030 agenda, as is ―SDG 16‖, which centers on the "promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels" in order to lessen the effect of violence and instability on development. Pakistan showed its effort to prioritize, integrate and implement SDGs across many domains by including the SDGs within its internal nationwide development scheme in 2016. This research shows the current progress of Pakistan towards the achievement of goal 16 and the enabling mechanisms available to achieve all its targets. This study provides analysis of only four targets (16.4, 16.5, 16.6 and 16.10) of the SDG 16 have been achieved in Pakistan, and the problem of progress is significantly hampered by the culture of corruption and nepotism. Pakistan is struggling with the evils of corruption and nepotism, much like many other postcolonial nations. It's possible that corruption won't go away. Controlling its intensity is necessary to prevent it from having an influence on everyday people's lives. The precursor and central objective of all SDGs is Goal 16. Without world peace, the SDGs cannot be completed by 2030. It is necessary to close the gap between intentions and ambitions.