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The key to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to create an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous society that works for the betterment of the planet and its people. Achieving these goals requires an exploration of local contexts and a call to action to implement and localize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNDP Pakistan is honored to serve as the lead implementing partner for providing policy support to the Government of Pakistan and assisting in formulating its SDG-responsive policies and budgets. At UNDP, we are working towards sustainable solutions to deliver on Agenda 2030 in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, development partners, UN Agencies, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders.
By leveraging partnerships with the Government at the federal and provincial levels, UNDP has been able to provide support for the localization and strengthening of monitoring and reporting mechanisms of the SDGs. It also supports the national and provincial governments in developing the SDG Acceleration Frameworks and provides technical support concerning the prioritization and development of a Pakistan-specific post-2015 Development Framework.
UNDP Pakistan values its strategic partnership with the Planning & Development Board, Government of the Punjab. To this end, we are particularly grateful for the support and leadership of the Chairman, P&D Board, Mr. Abdullah Khan Sumbal, for making this partnership a success. Through this support, the Punjab SDG Unit has made remarkable progress in aligning provincial policies and plans with SDGs and enhancing statistical capacities for SDGs monitoring and reporting to improve Punjab’s data ecosystem, determining baselines and 2030 targets for SDGs, and developing a provincially relevant SDGs Framework approved by the SDGs Advisory Council.
Given the social, economic, and environmental development challenges of the region, UNDP Pakistan is committed to continuing its support centered on evidence-based policymaking, investment preparation, and an econometric SDGs model to ensure inclusive development across Punjab.
I would also urge representatives from other domains to come forward and support timely interventions to spur private sector investment, mobilize global private capital, and synergize efforts to generate green economic recovery and growth, to ensure we Leave No One Behind.
Planning & Development Board is the apex planning body of the largest and most populous province of Pakistan. It is working with a clear vision to generate inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In this regard, both the Government of Pakistan’s Vision 2025 and Punjab Growth Strategy 2023 serve as guiding documents that highlight the need for public-private partnerships, human capital development, economic inclusion of women, support to SMEs, and public-private partnerships to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the National Development Agenda of Pakistan by the Government of Pakistan, the Punjab Government took the lead in establishing the SDGs Support Unit at Planning & Development Board in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme. The Government of Punjab is fully committed to mainstreaming and localizing SDGs in all of its policies, as showcased by our budgetary allocations and the alignment of development schemes with SDGs through the SMDP portal.
Over the years, we have effectively engaged with diverse think tanks and sectoral to develop the Punjab SDGs Framework. I would like to appreciate the efforts and dedication of the Government of the Punjab, development partners, the Private sector, and diverse stakeholders for enabling socially inclusive and economically viable economic growth across the province. The Government of Punjab, through its constant commitment to inclusive and sustainable human development, aims to ensure that no one is left behind.
