ASSESSING HUMAN SECURITY THROUGH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN: APPLYING MASLOW’S THEORY OF HIERARCHIAL NEEDS

Abstract

Human Security has gained much of the importance in the recent times due to its crucial links with development particularly talking about sustainable development. Assessing human security through the human development index will prove beneficial as it undertakes the three most important spheres of human life i.e. health, education and Gross National Income per Capita. Although, human development index has added few other indicators during the last few years. But the focus of my thesis would be specifically on health, education and Gross National Income indicators. Additionally, my thesis has also assessed the human satisfaction through utilizing Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchical Needs keeping in contexts with the human development index. My thesis has explored the major aspects of human development index as a tool to view the human security conditions in Pakistan. Pakistan misses some of the eminent milestones to achieve during the last few decades in the context of human development such as decreasing child mortality rates or increasing primary/secondary enrolment ratios to name some of the factors. In this regard, my thesis will also provide rationales to consider human security aspects while planning policies specifically ‘freedom from fear’ element. Human security is not only a concept to be studied in curriculums. Rather it is a strategy to be instigated in the state policies and meant to be implemented for better future prospects. Moreover, my thesis has also assessed that the country is struggling in the initial levels of Maslow’s theory of Hierarchical needs. Maslow’s Theory has provided a framework for the state policy makers to focus on achieving the highest level of human satisfaction, i.e. self-actualization needs. Under-utilization of resources (allocated budget) and policies is a major threat to the population at large whether in health, education or any field of humanity. Furthermore, the major country who has implemented human security in the state policies has progressed rapidly in ensuring wellbeing of its people. Therefore, human security is a unique aspect to deal with the current distressing situation in order to enhance the living conditions of population at large.