SDGs require coordinated UN efforts: Maleeha

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has told a gathering of diplomats and experts at the United Nations that progress is being made in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the global development agenda but will require all parts of the UN family and its partners to work together to meet all the targets set by the ambitious 15-year undertaking.

SDGs are indeed coming to life and we all are contributing to this, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said at a side event to the high-level political forum taking place to review implementation of SGDs. But then, the Pakistani envoy added, this is just a beginning, we have many miles to go. The side event was co-hosted by Pakistan, South Korea, Sierra Leone and the UN Development Group.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic UN Summit calls on countries to begin efforts to achieve 17 SDGs aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030. The goals address the needs of people in both developed and developing countries emphasizing that no one should be left behind.

Broad and ambitious in scope the agenda addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development social economic and environmental as well as important aspects related to peace, justice and effective institutions.

Ambassador Lodhi said Pakistan had always underlined the essential role of the UN Development System (UNDS) to realise the objectives set by the new agenda in line with national policies, priorities and needs.

Pakistan regarded the UNDG as a key development partner and with the support of UN country teams preparations were started for implementation of the 2030 agenda very early. That cooperation continued to be strengthened and further expanded. “We launched our National Development Strategy Vision 2025 last year,” the Pakistani envoy said it was aligned with the SDGs.

Inclusion of sustainability perspective in national economic and development plans had been an overarching aspect of this strategy. Within weeks of the Agenda’s adoption,
Ambassador Lodhi said Pakistan was able to launch the SDGs in Pakistan. Parliament adopted the SDGs as Pakistan’s development agenda and established a secretariat to serve as a resource centre for the SDGs.

Pakistan, she said, was thus among the pioneers demonstrating and mobilizing full political support and ownership. Our provincial governments are now aligning their strategies and annual development plans for coordinated implementation of SDGs, Ambassador Lodhi said adding UN agencies are extending technical support for this coordinated delivery. SDG Support Units with technical support from UNDP were being established at the national and provincial levels.