The Punjab Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Unit set up with technical assistance from the UNDP and Planning Commission of Pakistan at Punjab Planning & Development Department has been made functional on Wednesday. The SDGs Support Unit will serve as platform for UN-wide support at the provincial level. The unit will also act as nudge unit that will be instrumental in providing evidence, analysis and perspectives to inform public policy in the context of SDGs, with special focus on issues of inequality.
While inaugurating the SDGs Support Unit, Punjab Minister Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha said the Punjab government fully supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and was aligning its resources for achievement of these goals. Dr Ayesha stated that we should act collectively for our future generations; therefore, the priority-setting for SDGs should be done at the highest political level.
She emphasised on addressing governance issues confronting the implementation of MDGs, especially the issues of inequalities. Chairman P&D Board Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan emphasised the need of having a robust analysis of MDGs to understand the causes of Pakistan's performance and having a solid framework for SDGs that builds on concrete lessons learnt from MDGs era and how policies and investments can be aligned so that they become touchstone for achievement of SDGs.
Uzma Bukhari, MPA and Convener of SDGs Task Force said that it was heartening to note that Punjab was the first province to have the SDGs Support Unit operational which showed Punjab government's ownership of the SDGs. Shakeel Ahmad, Assistant Country Director, UJNDP appreciated the Government of Punjab on leading the efforts on localising the SDGs.