Meeting reviews Pakistan's preparations for Post-2015 Development Agenda

The meeting held at the Foreign Office was attended by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and senior officials from federal and provincial governments.

The meeting reviewed Pakistan’s preparations for the Post-2015 Development Agenda set to be adopted during the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to lead Pakistan delegation to the UN Summit.

The 15 year Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000 will be followed by the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period 2016-2030. Comprising 17 Goals and 169 Targets, the SDGs encompass all three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. Ending poverty and hunger, achieving gender equality and empowerment of women, ensuring education, health, water and sanitation and access to energy for all, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and full and productive employment, combating climate change, and ensuring lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources are among the key priorities of the SDGs.

The Prime Minister’s Adviser stressed that the targets should be closely aligned with Pakistan’s development needs and priorities.

The meeting agreed that learning from the experience of the inadequate performance on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an early start, sustained effort and a robust monitoring and follow-up mechanism were imperative for effective and full implementation of the SDGs in Pakistan.

The meeting decided that the Planning Commission, in coordination with the respective provincial authorities, would devise elaborate coordination and oversight procedures.

The meeting decided to remain engaged with the process in order to ensure effective implementation of the SDGs.