Involvement of all stakeholders for achieving SDGs by 2030 stressed

WATER WORKSHOP

Islamabad

Collaborative efforts and appropriate planning, involving all the stakeholders right from policy makers to users, is required to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) targets by 2030.

The remarks were made by Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Rana Tanveer Hussain at a national workshop organised by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) with the joint cooperation of United Nations University, Institute for Water Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), Canada and Water Resources Section, Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms.

In his inaugural address, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that water is a very important component of a country’s development and by achieving water related SDGs, Pakistan would also be able to manage the food and energy issues.

Chief Water Resources, Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms Naseer Ahmed Gillani, said the SDGs were not imposed on Pakistan. “Government has adopted those as National Agenda and was working out ways to accelerate their implementation at national level,” he said.

Dr. Manzoor Qadir from UNU-INWEH in his remarks said that in response to the adoption of this agenda, UNU-INWEH was working together with the Korean Environment Corporation (KECO) and the Ministry of Environment -- Republic of Korea, on a two year project  “Water in the World We Want – a water-related SDG framework for national action” that will focus on the incorporation of specific water-related sustainable development goals into planning and policy process at national level in five of the UNs member states, including Pakistan.

“We are looking for a high level commitment from partner countries and here I am very happy to report an excellent cooperation with Government of Pakistan, this workshop is first step in this regard”, he added.

Earlier, PCRWR Chairman Dr. Muhammad Ashraf in his welcome address said that assessment, planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation are the policy system tools for achievement of SDGs. The inaugural session of this national workshop was attended by distinguished researchers and scientists from various organisations.