Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said the government believed in policies of socio-economic growth and in the peaceful neighbourhood to ensure sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Addressing a seminar organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here, Aziz stressed that optimum utilisation of resources besides economic and social development was significant for poverty eradication.
The Adviser said Pakistan was pursuing the policy of trade over aid and urged the developed countries to ensure meting out fair treatment to developing states in their policies.
He said mutual cooperation at provincial and national level was underway to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Sartaj Aziz said the real obstacles for poverty reduction were in fact of political nature.
He mentioned that postponement of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit, earlier scheduled to be held in Islamabad, halted the progress in social and economic sectors.
He said Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were not meant for development countries only but were creating trade space for developing countries as well.
He said investment in the development of common man was the smartest option and stressed that many internal conflicts and crises could have been avoided if the investment was made in the lives of common man such as shelter, health and education.
Sartaj Aziz said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a testimony of strong and exemplary relations between China and Pakistan.
He emphasised that regional connectivity and mutual sharing of experiences in different fields could ensure region’s progress and stability.
The Adviser also stressed the need for taking effective steps to address environmental changes.