Barriers to Sustainable Development: Examining Pakistan’s Economic Taboos and SDG Challenges

This paper explores economic taboos, which are impeding the prospects of Pakistan to seeing through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using primary and secondary data, the study identifies cultural, institutional, and policy related economic prohibitions which limit inclusive development, financial disclosure, gender economic participation, and just distribution of resource. Thirty-three face-to-face interviews were undertaken with policy makers, economists and development practitioners. Thematic and content analyses of the qualitative data identified emerging themes including many who are unwilling to discuss regulation of informal economy and tax evasion and gendered economic roles as well as opposition to fiscal reforms. Secondary data collected from government reports and international development organizations also supported these findings. The report illustrates how these economic taboos — distorted by social and political sensitivities and by institutional inaction —become the systemic obstacles to an effective SDG application. This study recommends policy discourse reforms, public awareness and institution-building to undo these taboos and to ensure sustainable economic development of Pakistan.