Inclusiveness: the true measure of development

By Iqra Rasheed

“If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to support that child’s parent”

This statement captures a truth often ignored in our development debates. In Pakistan, development is frequently measured through infrastructure projects, economic indicators and political claims of progress. Yet these metrics mean little if they fail to reflect human dignity and social inclusion. Real development is not defined by what is built but by who is allowed to belong.

Inclusiveness is not optional charity. It is not about temporary subsidies or symbolic relief packages for the marginalized. It is about equity about correcting structural disadvantages that systematically exclude large segments of our population from education, employment, healthcare and justice. Inclusiveness is not an optional moral gesture; it is a constitutional obligation. The Constitution of Pakistan, particularly Article 9 (Right to Life), Article 14 (Human Dignity), Article 25 (Equality of Citizens), and Article 37 (Promotion of Social Justice) gives us rights. Development that sidelines women, caregivers, persons with disabilities, minorities and low-income families stands in direct contradiction to this constitutional promise.

In Pakistan, marginalization is not accidental. It is deeply embedded in our social and institutional frameworks. Women shoulder disproportionate unpaid care work. Single mothers face social stigma and legal invisibility. Parents of children with disabilities struggle in an education system designed for uniformity rather than diversity. Low-income families are expected to survive inflation, unemployment, and weak social protection with minimal state support.

The United Nations Human Development framework rightly states:“Development is about expanding people’s freedoms and choices.” In our country, however, freedom and choice remain deeply unequal. Children do not grow independently of their social environment, and neither do parents. Research in psychology consistently shows that a child’s wellbeing is inseparable from the wellbeing of caregivers. When parents are overwhelmed by financial stress, lack of childcare, insecure employment, or social exclusion, the impact is reflected in children’s mental health, education, and future prospects.

Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory explains that child development is influenced by interconnected systems family, community, institutions and public policy. In Pakistan, when these systems fail to support parents, they fail children collectively. This failure later manifests as school dropouts, child labor, poor mental health outcome and intergenerational poverty. Our policy approach often relies on charity based solutions rather than structural reform. While initiatives like cash assistance or food support provide temporary relief, they do not address root causes such as lack of accessible childcare, parenting trainings, gender-insensitive workplaces, or inclusive education frameworks.

Inclusiveness must move beyond tolerance to graceful coexistence. This means designing systems that accommodate difference rather than penalize it. This includes: Gender sensitive labor laws and flexible work arrangements, Inclusive education policies for children with special needs, Social protection for caregivers, Accessible public spaces and meaningful representation of marginalized groups in decision making. A society grows great when it cares for those who cannot care for themselves.”Development that excludes is an illusion. For Pakistan, inclusiveness is not an imported idea it is an urgent necessity. Until equity becomes policy rather than rhetoric and inclusion becomes structure rather than slogan our vision of progress will remain incomplete.