ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal has been appointed as UNDP's Champion Minister from Asia Pacific region to promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He was appointed UNDP's Champion Minister for working proactively to implement of SDGs in Pakistan at UNDP's at 50th anniversary of UNDP meeting in UN Headquarters, says a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning and Development here.Ahsan Iqbal who is currently visiting United States.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal said that UNDP and Pakistan shared a strategic partnership in development and termed 50th anniversary of UNDP a milestone.
He praised UNDP for support all along the road to development with zero political agenda and said that it is essential for UNDP to create strong and effective knowledge sharing platforms.
UNDP, he said is a trusted partner of the Government of Pakistan and will remain so.
The Government of Pakistan looks forward to continued partnership with UNDP for human development and the achievement of SDGs, he said.
Ahsan Iqbal pointed out UNDP in Pakistan has remained actively involved in areas ranging from policy reforms, environment and climate change, disaster risk reduction and management and democratic governance.
Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted the proactive policy of Pakistan for implementation of SDGs and said Pakistan is the first country to adopt SDG as National Development Agenda and through adoption of unanimous resolution in National Assembly , which has already been reflected in Pakistan Vision-2025.
"Pakistan is leading development agenda by creating ownership, Ahsan Iqbal said. With support from UNDP, for the first time SDG Secretariat has been established in the Parliament of Pakistan, he added.
He said that government has signed a long-term agreement with UNDP, under which national SDGs initiative has been launched to provide effective governance mechanisms for policy mainstreaming, coordination and monitoring of SDGs in Pakistan.
Besides this, the Government of Pakistan has also shown its intention to transform the current MDG fund into a SDG fund for community based interventions to achieve SDGs.
Minister Planning & Development noted that world has a shared destiny and called upon developed world to show responsibility in mitigating damage of climate change in developing countries.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal visited Google Headquarters in Bay Area, Silicon Valley USA.
He discussed with the management of Google for its contribution towards development of IT sector in Pakistan.
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