Cambodia, Pakistan rank lowest

ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Creative Productivity Index (CPI) has ranked Pakistan at 23 out of a total of 24 countries in terms of creative productivity, with a low level of human capital as well as inadequate electricity and infrastructure.

The report compiled by intelligence unit of ADB has ranked Pakistan only above Cambodia with inputs lagging behind in the knowledge-skill base. Japan and South Korea occupy the top two positions overall in Asia, implying they are the most efficient of all the economies at turning creative inputs into outputs while in contrast, Pakistan and Cambodia are ranked the lowest in the sample. Additionally, a lack of competition, particularly from abroad provides little incentive for domestic firms to innovate. The low scores on outputs, particularly with respect to scientific outputs and creative-industry goods, are accordingly low. Although, the country scores better for the strength of university-industry collaboration and the enrolment ratio of tertiary students in science, it has no universities in the worlds’ top 500 and ranks poorly for the average years of education, as well as on indicators of secondary schooling.

The report characterized Pakistan as a pool of poorly educated workers and a small well-educated elite as the government has prioritized tertiary education at the expense of primary and secondary schooling, owing both to capacity constraints and because investment in tertiary education is more popular among Pakistan’s urban elites. The country’s infrastructure remains poor due to decades of underinvestment. Pakistan’s severely inadequate electricity supplies are of particular concern and pose a large threat to businesses and, more generally, productivity.

In terms of overall output, the economy ranks near the bottom of the index, at 22nd. As with several other economies, it lags behind in terms of the number of scientific publications and patents. Although it outperforms economies with higher levels of inputs, such as South Korea, in the area of scientific publications, there is scope for improvement given the country’s relatively high enrolment ratio of tertiary students in science. Only 112 patent applications were filed by residents and Pakistanis abroad in 2012, down from 139 in 2011, while only 26 patents were granted in 2012. Elsewhere, the country is ranked above only Sri Lanka for the number of films and books published, indicating that more investment is needed to foster Pakistan’s creative industries. Cambodia and Pakistan, with much room for improvement, are ranked the lowest in the CPI.

Although Cambodia scores relatively well for firms dynamics, including relatively flexible labour market, it lags behind other economies in the CPI in most other indicators. Pakistan is ranked poorly in CPI.