Punjab Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha has said that Punjab government fully supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is aligning its resources for the achievement of these goals. She emphasised on addressing governance issues confronting the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially the issues of inequalities.
She said this while inaugurating the Punjab Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Unit at Punjab Planning and Development Department Lahore.
Dr Aisha stated, “We should act collectively today for our future generations; therefore, the priority-setting for SDGs should be done at the highest political level.”
Addressing the ceremony, Planning and Development Board Chairman Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan emphasised the need of having a robust analysis of MDGs to understand the causes of Pakistan’s performance and having a solid framework for SDGs that builds on concrete lessons learnt from MDGs era and how policies and investments can be aligned.
Earlier, while giving his opening remarks, Planning and Development Department Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo reaffirmed the support of the provincial government for the SDGs.
Speaking on the occasion, SDGs Task Force Convener and MPA Uzma Bukhari said that it was heartening to note that Punjab was the first province to have the SDGs Support Unit operational, which showed Punjab government’s ownership of the SDGs.
UJNDP Assistant Country Director Shakeel Ahmad appreciated the government of Punjab on leading the efforts on localising the SDGs. He also mentioned that the SDGs Support Unit will serve as a platform for UN-wide support at the provincial level. The support unit will also act as nudge unit that will be instrumental in providing evidence, analysis and perspectives to inform public policy in the context of SDGs, with a special focus on the issues of inequality. He underscored the importance of Provincial Finance Commission Award in this regard.
Poverty Alleviation and SDGs Planning Commission Chief Zafar-ul-Hassan highlighted the need for vertical and horizontal policy coherence through institutional coordination and formal partnerships critical for SDGs implementation.
SDGs Support Unit has been established by the P&D department with technical assistance from UNDP and Planning Commission of Pakistan, he further added. High-ranking government functionaries and development partners, including administrative secretaries, members and chiefs of P&D, representatives from the districts and UN agencies also attended the ceremony.
