Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Strengthening Global Development Initiative in Pakistan

Pakistan

Background The Global Development Initiative (GDI), championed by China, seeks to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through partnerships in eight priority areas, including climate resilience, poverty alleviation, digital development, and green growth. With deep strategic ties between Pakistan and China, including cooperation under CPEC, Pakistan is well-positioned to integrate GDI into … Read more

PM lauds China’s ‘invaluable’ support for achievement of SDGs

China
  • PM Kakar said Pakistan fully supports China’s GDI.
  • He told high-level meeting on GDI on sideline of NGA.
  • He said Pakistan looks forward to enhancing its cooperation.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fully supports China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI) that focuses on cooperation and partnerships and addresses such issues as extreme poverty, food security and climate change, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwwar-ul-Haq Kakar said while underscoring the need for adequate finance for the development process.

“The GDI can serve as a mechanism to enable developing countries, with assistance from UN agencies, to prepare a pipeline of viable and bankable projects in their priority areas,” he told a high-level meeting on GDI and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly.

The meeting was presided over by China’s Vice President Han Zheng.

The Global Development Initiative (GDI) was launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 21, 2021.

“Pakistan and China are iron brothers who enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are vital vehicles for achieving the SDGs,” PM Kakar said.

He referred to the devastation of most developing countries’ economies by the poly-crises of — Covid, conflict and climate change — and said that China had extended invaluable support for the achievement of the SDGs.

He pointed out GDI and its Group of Friends have identified eight sectors and areas for priority action, including strengthening domestic food production; larger public and private investment in sustainable infrastructure; expanding domestic manufacturing and industrial capacity; building resilient healthcare systems, and eliminating the “digital divide”.

“Adequate and appropriate finance is critical at all levels of the development process,” PM Kakar said, noting the current gap in financing for the SDGs is $ 4.2 trillion annually.

“The GDI can help bridge this gap, especially by securing implementation of the commitments made by developed countries at the SDG Summit to mobilize financing for the SDGs,” the prime minister said.

Pakistan, he said,  commended President Xi’s announcement that China would set up another fund of $10 billion dedicated to the implementation of the GDI.

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Dar appreciates UNDP’s role in achieving SDGs

Ishaq Dar

Ishaq Dar reiterated commitment on achieving SDGs UNDP Resident Representative Knut Ostby called on him. UNDP officials briefed on the Climate Resilient Pakistan plan ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar has reiterated the commitment of the government on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and extended full support. He … Read more

Ahsan Iqbal: Pakistan keen on alluring private sector to attain SDGs

Ahsan Iqbal
  • Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stated on Thursday that the Pakistani government was eager to explore cooperation opportunities and find solutions with the corporate sector to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Switzerland, Pakistan, Ghana, and Montenegro were co-sponsors of the event.
    The minister congratulated the forum’s organizers and co-organizers for hosting the discussion on “leaving no one behind” for a resilient economic recovery

 

NEW YORK: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stated on Thursday that the Pakistani government was eager to explore cooperation opportunities and find solutions with the corporate sector to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The way forward for Pakistan is to develop an economic value proposition that creates incentives for financial markets and private investors to participate in sustainable development through a strategic partnership and innovative financial instruments supported by a conducive policy framework,” the minister said at a conference on the Localization of VNR process at the headquarters of the United Nations.

Switzerland, Pakistan, Ghana, and Montenegro were co-sponsors of the event.
The minister congratulated the forum’s organizers and co-organizers for hosting the discussion on “leaving no one behind” for a resilient economic recovery.

According to him, the increased uncertainty caused by COVID-19 has caused a unique convergence of geopolitical reorientation, supply disruptions, food and energy instability, and increasingly volatile financial markets.

Pakistan’s second VNR Report documents the progress of the national key performance indicators, he said, adding that the report had been painstakingly compiled and produced at a pivotal time when the country had faced an unprecedented human and economic toll and continues to fight an uphill battle to address the inequities in implementing its recovery and rehabilitation efforts across the country.

Consequently, according to Ahsan Iqbal, our second VNR also takes into account the loss of development benefits and the resultant delays in reaching Agenda 2030.
While we struggle to manage our internal and foreign macroeconomic imbalances, the Pakistani government is committed to rectifying the situation.

He stated that Pakistan was a resilient nation that has faced comparable debt levels and deficits in the past and emerged victorious.
“We believe that capitalizing on the youth bulge, providing room for the private sector, and concentrating on governance, regulation, and the social sector will be essential for future sustainability and progress on the SDG 2030 agenda.”

Today, he stated that one of our greatest difficulties is to devise inventive methods for handling several obstacles while simultaneously capitalizing on the numerous possibilities they present.
The purpose of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) is to assess how far nations have come in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Inclusion, the minister stressed, is the key to achieving sustainable development. When it is accompanied by equity, it accelerates the process. We are advancing toward the year 2030.
He noted that the epidemic widened the chasms of inequality, sending numerous nations down the perilous route of economic rescue by borrowing.

Even rich nations are already struggling from its repercussions, he added, indicating that the global outlook is dismal. There is an urgent need for homegrown solutions based on the principles of sustainability and independence.
Utilizing young potential to its fullest extent, positioning women as drivers of economic progress and prosperity, and channeling excluded parts of society into sustainable and community-driven social safety nets may minimize state costs and provide overall economic advantages.

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UNDP Pakistan in collaboration with IBA

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan, in collaboration with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi has initiated a pilot study on urban resilience for Karachi’s informal communities of Azam Basti and Rehri Goth. The project seeks to strengthen the inclusion and resilience of migrants, displaced people and host communities in informal urban settlements across … Read more

UNICEF executive director acknowledges Pakistan’s efforts towards child rights, SDGs

ISLAMABAD: Executive Director of United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Catherine Russell on Monday acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts for realisation of child rights and the progress towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she appreciated the response of the government of … Read more

Back on track

Pakistan’s economy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s economy brushed aside the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as it registered a robust growth of 4.5 per cent in 2021, a latest UN report revealed. At the same time, the global body advised the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to assess the magnitude and timing of the monetary policy to support … Read more

SECMC hits 10 million tonnes production milestone

SECMC

KARACHI: The Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) has successfully achieved 10 million tonnes of coal production milestone, a statement said. SECMC, one of the largest public-private partnership in the energy sector, commenced commercial operations in July 2019 with an annual production capacity of 3.8 million tonnes. Over the last two-and-a-half years, SECMC has successfully … Read more

Ambassador Akram calls for combating rising poverty, hunger

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Economic and Social Council’s President Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan has urged the world community to unite to combat rising poverty and hunger through measures that include social protection and relief programmes at the commemoration of ECOSOC’s 75th anniversary on Friday. “Scaled-up investment in sustainable infrastructure, an estimated requirement of $1 … Read more

SDGs inclusion in national agenda ensures sustainability: Qureshi

FM Qureshi Pays Tribute To Kashmiri People On Martyrs' Day

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that inclusion of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 in Pakistan’s national development agenda was reflective of its political commitment to ensure an across-the-board development of its people. Addressing the launch of 4G broadband services in Multan and Khanewal districts, the foreign minister said Pakistan, … Read more