Pakistan, June 25 -- In recent years, Pakistan has invested heavily in development - building roads, expanding infrastructure, attracting foreign investment, and partnering with global institutions on education and health. On paper, this progress reflects a country eager to modernise and integrate with the global economy. But behind the statistics lies a more uncomfortable truth: development in Pakistan continues to advance without securing the rights and dignity of its most vulnerable citizens.

The contradiction is stark. While shiny new motorways and metro buses showcase economic ambition, thousands of communities remain without clean water, basic education, or access to fair legal protection. In some areas, development has deepened in...